Government, Economic, and Social Life under the Delhi Sultanate along with a robust central and local administration.
Delhi Sultanate Administration
The Delhi Sultanate administration established a strong political, military, and legal authority under the Sultans (13th–16th century). It shaped central and local administration, introduced economic reforms, and left a lasting administrative legacy. This topic is crucial for students preparing for history exams and competitive tests.
Delhi Sultanate Administration: Structure, Reforms, and Legacy (13th–16th Century)
The Sultan was the supreme authority of the Delhi Sultanate.
The Sultan held complete power over politics, law, military, and justice, with no fixed law of succession.
(i) Supreme political, military, and legal authority.
(ii) Responsible for administration, justice, and state safety.
(iii) Acted as a court of appeal, appointing judges and ensuring justice.
(iv) Succession depended on military strength and public opinion.
Central Administration of the Delhi Sultanate
The Sultan was assisted by ministers, whose roles evolved over time into specialized departments.
Key Ministers and Departments
(i) Wazir evolved from a military commander to a revenue expert.
(ii) Diwan-i-Arz handled military administration and introduced reforms.
(iii) Diwan-i-Risalat managed religious and justice affairs.
(iv) Diwan-i-Insha supervised state correspondence.
(v) Barids (intelligence agents) and household department ensured control and information flow.
Local Administration under the Delhi Sultanate
The empire was divided into administrative units like iqtas, shiqs, and parganas for efficient governance.
Iqta System and Local Officials
(i) Country divided into iqtas, governed by muqtis or walis.
(ii) Muqtis ensured law and order and collected revenue.
(iii) Central control over muqtis increased with time to prevent misuse.
Provincial and Rural Administration
(a) Provinces divided into shiqs and parganas.
(b) Administered by local leaders with central oversight.
(c) Alauddin Khalji’s reforms led to conflicts and peasant uprisings.
Economic and Social Policies of the Delhi Sultanate
The Sultans implemented revenue and military reforms that strengthened administration and impacted society.
Revenue and Military Reforms
(i) Land revenue was the chief source of income.
(ii) Alauddin Khalji introduced reforms in revenue collection.
(iii) Military reforms improved efficiency and quality.
(iv) Firuz Tughlaq established departments for public works and slaves.
Influence and Legacy of the Delhi Sultanate's Administration
The Delhi Sultanate’s administrative framework shaped future governance systems in India.
(i) Influenced Mughal administration in the 16th century.
(ii) Administrative practices continued to inspire later frameworks even after the Sultanate’s decline.
Summary of Delhi Sultanate Administration
The Delhi Sultanate administration centralized political, military, and legal authority under the Sultans (13th–16th century). With structured central and local governance, Alauddin Khalji and Firuz Tughlaq introduced key economic and military reforms. Its legacy influenced Mughal administration, making it an essential topic for students of history and exam preparation.
