Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Administration - Question Bank

1. Which Mughal Emperor is credited with reorganizing the revenue administration and introducing the 'Zabt' system on a wider scale?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Jahangir
2. The 'Potadar' or 'Khazanchi' was an official responsible for:
A) Maintaining the imperial treasury and currency
B) Supervising the construction of public buildings
C) Managing the imperial stables
D) Ensuring the supply of provisions to the army
3. The 'Qanungos' were hereditary revenue officials who:
A) Assessed land revenue
B) Maintained records of land and revenue
C) Collected revenue from peasants
D) Advised the Emperor on military strategy
4. What was the primary function of the 'Mir Bakshi' in the Mughal administration?
A) Chief justice
B) Head of the revenue department
C) Minister of war and head of the intelligence and postal departments
D) Overseer of the royal household
5. The 'Darogha-i-Dak' was responsible for:
A) Overseeing the army
B) Managing the postal and intelligence department
C) Collecting customs duties
D) Supervising the royal mint
6. The 'Patta' and 'Qabuliyat' system was introduced by Sher Shah Suri to:
A) Regulate military recruitment
B) Formalize land revenue settlement between the state and the cultivator
C) Establish market prices
D) Appoint provincial governors
7. The 'Dahsala' system, introduced by Akbar, was a revenue settlement that:
A) Collected revenue in kind only
B) Fixed revenue based on an average of ten years' produce and prices
C) Allowed farmers to pay revenue in installments
D) Exempted certain lands from taxation
8. Akbar's land revenue system, known as 'Zabt', was based on:
A) Fixed tribute from provinces
B) Average produce of the land over ten years
C) Share of the crop determined annually
D) Percentage of trade revenue
9. Sher Shah Suri, who briefly interrupted Mughal rule, introduced significant administrative reforms. Which of these was NOT his reform?
A) Introduction of the 'Rupiya' as currency
B) Standardization of weights and measures (Sikandari 'Gaz')
C) Establishment of the 'Diwan-i-Wizarat'
D) Construction of the Grand Trunk Road
10. The 'Jagir' system in the Mughal Empire was a system of:
A) Land grants for religious institutions
B) Assignment of land revenue to officials in lieu of salary
C) Tax exemption for farmers
D) Direct royal ownership of all land
11. In the Mansabdari system, the rank was indicated by a number representing men and horses. What were these two components called?
A) Jagir and Watan
B) Zat and Sawar
C) Iqta and Khalisa
D) Mansab and Jageer
12. Akbar introduced the 'Mansabdari' system. What was its primary purpose?
A) To regulate agricultural land
B) To organize the nobility and military, and fix their rank and pay
C) To establish a new currency system
D) To create a new judicial framework
13. The 'Shikdar' was an official at the Pargana level responsible for:
A) Judicial functions
B) Revenue collection and administration
C) Military administration
D) Supervising local markets
14. The 'Amalguzar' or 'Karori' was an official at the district level responsible for:
A) Military recruitment
B) Revenue collection and assessment
C) Judicial proceedings
D) Public works
15. The 'Faujdar' was an important official at the district level in the Mughal administration, primarily responsible for:
A) Revenue assessment
B) Maintaining law and order and military functions
C) Administering justice
D) Overseeing trade and commerce
16. The 'Diwan-i-Suba' was the provincial counterpart of the central Diwan and was responsible for:
A) Revenue administration in the province
B) Military command in the province
C) Judicial matters in the province
D) Maintaining law and order in the province
17. The highest administrative unit in the Mughal Empire was the 'Suba' or province. Who was the head of the Suba?
A) Diwan
B) Faujdar
C) Subedar (or Nazim)
D) Qazi
18. The Mughal administrative system was heavily influenced by the administrative practices of which earlier empire?
A) Gupta Empire
B) Mauryan Empire
C) Delhi Sultanate
D) Chola Empire
19. Who is considered the founder of the Mughal Empire in India?
A) Akbar
B) Humayun
C) Babur
D) Jahangir
20. The 'Sadar-us-Sudur' was the chief:
A) Military commander
B) Revenue officer
C) Ecclesiastical authority and minister of justice
D) Head of the intelligence department
21. Which Sultan of Delhi is credited with establishing the 'Diwan-i-Bandagan', a department for slaves?
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Bahlol Lodi
22. The 'Muhtasib' was an official appointed to:
A) Collect land revenue
B) Oversee public morals and markets
C) Command the cavalry
D) Administer justice in the capital
23. The 'Diwan-i-Insha' was the department that handled:
A) Royal correspondence and records
B) Military expeditions
C) Religious endowments
D) Public works
24. The 'Barid' was an official in the Delhi Sultanate responsible for:
A) Tax assessment
B) Intelligence and postal services
C) Market regulation
D) Judicial pronouncements
25. The 'Qazi' during the Delhi Sultanate was primarily responsible for:
A) Provincial administration
B) Interpreting and enforcing Islamic law
C) Maintaining the royal treasury
D) Overseeing the postal department
26. The 'Ariz-i-Mumalik' was the minister responsible for:
A) Revenue collection
B) Military affairs and recruitment
C) Justice and law
D) Foreign correspondence
27. Who was the chief minister of the Sultan, holding considerable power and often acting as his deputy?
A) Qazi
B) Wazir
C) Ariz-i-Mumalik
D) Barid
28. The title 'Naib' during the Delhi Sultanate usually referred to:
A) The chief minister or deputy to the Sultan
B) The commander of the army
C) The chief justice
D) The revenue minister
29. What was the administrative division below the province (Iqta) during the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Shiq
B) Pargana
C) Gram
D) Sarkar
30. The Battle of Panipat in 1526 marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate and the beginning of the Mughal Empire. Who defeated Ibrahim Lodi?
A) Sher Shah Suri
B) Babur
C) Humayun
D) Akbar
31. Sikandar Lodi is credited with the introduction of a new unit of measurement for land. What was it called?
A) Gaz-i-Sikandari
B) Bigha
C) Biswa
D) Marla
32. The Lodi dynasty was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Who was the founder of the Lodi dynasty?
A) Sikandar Lodi
B) Ibrahim Lodi
C) Bahlol Lodi
D) Daulat Khan Lodi
33. The Sayyid dynasty ruled Delhi after the Tughlaqs. Who was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty?
A) Khizr Khan
B) Mubarak Shah
C) Muhammad Shah
D) Alauddin Alam Shah
34. Firoz Shah Tughlaq abolished many taxes and imposed the Jaziya on non-Muslims. What was the primary purpose of the 'Jaziya' tax?
A) Land revenue
B) Military service exemption
C) Protection and religious tolerance
D) Trade tariff
35. Firoz Shah Tughlaq established several new cities and repaired old ones. Which of these cities was founded by him?
A) Agra
B) Jaunpur
C) Fatehpur Sikri
D) Hampi
36. Which Sultan introduced the 'Taqavi' loans for agriculturalists?
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
37. Muhammad bin Tughlaq is known for his controversial experiments. Which of the following was NOT one of his major policies?
A) Transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad
B) Introduction of token currency
C) Conquest of the Deccan
D) Increase in land revenue in the Doab region
38. Alauddin Khalji introduced two new administrative departments: Diwan-i-Mustakhraj and Diwan-i-Arz. What were their functions?
A) Revenue collection and army organization
B) Justice and charity
C) Foreign affairs and education
D) Crown lands and postal service
39. Alauddin Khalji is famous for his administrative reforms, including market control policies. What was the name of the market supervisor he appointed?
A) Wazir
B) Naib
C) Shahna-i-Mandhi
D) Qazi
40. Which dynasty ended the rule of the Slave dynasty and came to power in 1290?
A) Tughlaq dynasty
B) Sayyid dynasty
C) Khalji dynasty
D) Lodi dynasty
41. Balban, a powerful Sultan, consolidated the Sultanate's power and introduced policies like 'Sijda' and 'Paibos'. What was his primary objective?
A) To expand the empire
B) To suppress internal rebellions and strengthen royal authority
C) To promote trade and commerce
D) To reform religious practices
42. The 'Chahalgani' or 'Forty Nobles' was a group of Turkish nobles influential during the reign of which Sultan?
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Iltutmish
D) Balban
43. Who was the first and only Muslim woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Nur Jahan
B) Mumtaz Mahal
C) Raziya Sultan
D) Maham Anga
44. Which ruler introduced the 'Iqta' system in administration during the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B) Balban
C) Iltutmish
D) Alauddin Khalji
45. The Qutb Minar was commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by which ruler?
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Iltutmish
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
46. Who is known as the 'Slave King' and founded the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Raziya Sultan
B) Nasiruddin Mahmud
C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D) Balban
47. Which dynasty succeeded the Ghurid dynasty in Delhi?
A) Tughlaq dynasty
B) Sayyid dynasty
C) Slave dynasty
D) Lodi dynasty
48. Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Iltutmish
B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
C) Muhammad Ghori
D) Bahlol Lodi
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