SSC CGL History · Medieval India
Delhi Sultanate
The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in order with the deeds of their great Sultans, and the departments, coins, markets and taxes they set up.
Why this matters
Twenty-three questions in the bank: ten from the 2023 shifts, eight from the 2024 shifts and five from the 2025 shifts. Half ask who did something (Balban, Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq between them answer most); the other half ask what a department or a term meant. A ruler list and a term list cover both.
Concept 1 of 2: The Sultans and their deeds
Definition
The dynasties and their founders, in order:
- Slave (Mamluk), 1206: Qutbuddin Aibak (1206 to 1210), after Muhammad Ghori's death.
- Khalji, 1290: Jalaluddin Khalji.
- Tughlaq, 1320: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
- Sayyid, 1414: Khizr Khan.
- Lodi, 1451: Bahlul Lodi. The last Sultan, Ibrahim Lodi, fell to Babur at Panipat in 1526.
The great Sultans:
- Iltutmish (1211 to 1236). His daughter Raziya (1236 to 1240) was the Sultanate's only woman ruler.
- Balban (1266 to 1287): chose consolidation over conquest; brought in the Persian court customs of sijda (prostration) and paibos (kissing the feet). When Tughril Khan rebelled in Bengal (1279), Balban crushed him.
- Alauddin Khalji (1296 to 1316): his slave-general Malik Kafur led the southern campaigns, the first against Devagiri (1307 to 1308).
- Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1324 to 1351): token currency; moved the capital to Daulatabad.
| Sultan | Reign | Remember for |
|---|---|---|
| Qutbuddin Aibak | 1206 to 1210 | Founded the Slave dynastyQ |
| Raziya | 1236 to 1240 | The only woman SultanQ |
| Balban | 1266 to 1287 | Sijda and paibos; consolidationQ |
| Alauddin Khalji | 1296 to 1316 | Malik Kafur's southern campaignsQ |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | 1324 to 1351 | Token currency; DaulatabadQ |
| Ibrahim Lodi | Died 1526 | The last SultanQ |
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 1 · Medieval India · Delhi Sultanate
Balban was a Slave Sultan, not a Khalji
Tughril Khan, not Bughra Khan
Concept 2 of 2: Departments, coins, markets and taxes
Definition
Departments (diwans):
- Diwan-i-Arz: the military department, set up by Balban under the Ariz-i-Mumalik.
- Diwan-i-Insha: royal correspondence, headed by the Dabir-i-Khas.
- Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi: agriculture, set up by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
- Diwan-i-Risalat: religious affairs and appeals. The Barid-i-Mumalik ran the intelligence and post.
Iqta: the revenue of a territory assigned to an officer for his service. The Bahmani and Vijayanagara kingdoms borrowed the idea.
Alauddin Khalji's army and markets: dagh (branding of horses), huliya (a description of each soldier) and cash pay. Grain sold at the Mandi, cloth at the Sarai-i-Adl, under the Shahna-i-Mandi.
Coins: Iltutmish introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital. Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency used copper (bronze) coins in place of silver.
Taxes: kharaj (land tax), jizya (on non-Muslims) and khums, one-fifth of war booty.
| Term | Meaning | Linked with |
|---|---|---|
| Diwan-i-Arz | Military department | BalbanQ |
| Diwan-i-Insha | Royal correspondence | Dabir-i-KhasQ |
| Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi | Agriculture | Muhammad bin TughlaqQ |
| Dagh and huliya | Branding horses; roll of soldiers | Alauddin KhaljiQ |
| Sarai-i-Adl | Cloth market | Alauddin KhaljiQ |
| Tanka and jital | Silver and copper coins | IltutmishQ |
| Iqta | Revenue of a territory for service | Copied by the BahmanisQ |
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 2 · Medieval India · Delhi Sultanate
Kharaj, jizya and khums are three different taxes
The tanka was what Tughlaq replaced
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (2)
The Sultans and their deeds6 rows
| Sultan | Reign | Remember for |
|---|---|---|
| Qutbuddin Aibak | 1206 to 1210 | Founded the Slave dynastyQ |
| Raziya | 1236 to 1240 | The only woman SultanQ |
| Balban | 1266 to 1287 | Sijda and paibos; consolidationQ |
| Alauddin Khalji | 1296 to 1316 | Malik Kafur's southern campaignsQ |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | 1324 to 1351 | Token currency; DaulatabadQ |
| Ibrahim Lodi | Died 1526 | The last SultanQ |
Departments, coins, markets and taxes7 rows
| Term | Meaning | Linked with |
|---|---|---|
| Diwan-i-Arz | Military department | BalbanQ |
| Diwan-i-Insha | Royal correspondence | Dabir-i-KhasQ |
| Diwan-i-Amir-i-Kohi | Agriculture | Muhammad bin TughlaqQ |
| Dagh and huliya | Branding horses; roll of soldiers | Alauddin KhaljiQ |
| Sarai-i-Adl | Cloth market | Alauddin KhaljiQ |
| Tanka and jital | Silver and copper coins | IltutmishQ |
| Iqta | Revenue of a territory for service | Copied by the BahmanisQ |
Watch out for (4)
- Balban was a Slave Sultan, not a Khalji→ The Sultans and their deeds
- Tughril Khan, not Bughra Khan→ The Sultans and their deeds
- Kharaj, jizya and khums are three different taxes→ Departments, coins, markets and taxes
- The tanka was what Tughlaq replaced→ Departments, coins, markets and taxes
Test yourself on Medieval India
20 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 12 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.