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Administration Of the Delhi Sultanate

The Central administration of the Delhi Sultanate followed a very systematic and well planned administration procedure which was run by different ministers who had specific work assigned to them. Besides, there were also several other departments and the Sultan appointed their officers to carry on specific duties.

• The SULTAN : was the titular head of the state and enjoyed unlimited powers in every sphere of state activity.
• The NAIB : also enjoyed equivalent position as that of the Sultan.
• The WAZIR : was the Prime Minister of the state and headed the financial department.
• Diwan-e-Ariz  : He was the head of the department of diwani-i-arz and in that capacity was the controller-general of the military department.
• Diwan-e-Risalt : was the minister of foreign affairs he was in command of state tie ups with neighboring kingdoms and also was assigned the task of alliancing with powerful rulers.
• Sadr-ul-Sadar : was the head of the religious department. His work was to the safeguard the Islamic Laws and its upkeep.
• Amir-e-Majlis-Shahi : he was the minister who looked after the festivals of the state, and made sure of all the public conveniences and arrangements during festive seasons.
• Diwan-I-Insha- was the minister who looked after the local correspondence of and different offices

The local administration included :-

1. Amil- officers who collected land revenue and other taxes
2. Mushrif
3. Hazamdars- treasurers who kept the finances in control.
4. Qazi-Civil officials, who maintained developmental records.
5. Shiqdar-Criminal official and law makers.
6. Kotwal-Police head under shiqdar.
7. Faujdar-Military official in charge of fort along with their adjoining territories.
8. Amin- Officers in charge of measuring land and allocating their usage’.
9. Qanungo-Maintained previous records of produce and assessment.
10. Patwari-Village record keeper

The Delhi Sultanate was further divided into smaller provinces for it was convenient for the ministers to help them in the administration. They were called IQTAS modern day equivalent to districts.

Iqta System :-

1. The Iqtadari was a unique type of land distribution and administrative system evolved during the sultanate of Iltutmish.
2. Under this system, the entire empire was very evenly divided into several large and small tracts of land, called the Iqtas.
3. These plots of land were assigned to the various nobles, officers and soldiers for the purpose of easy and flawless administration and revenue collection.
4. The Iqtas were transferable, i.e., the holders of Iqtas-Iqtadars-were transferred from one region to other every three to four years.
5. The holders of small Iqtas were individual troopers. They had no administrative responsibilities.

Delhi Sultanate led to the evolution of a powerful and efficient administrative system. They are even today remembered for their very systematic administrative capabilities which proves their effectiveness.

Economic Conditions of the Delhi Sultanate

The Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate collected five categories of taxes which fall under the economic system of the empire.

These taxes are:

1. Ushr,
2. Kharaj,
3. Khams,
4. Jizya and
5. Zakat.

The main items of expenditure were expenses on the maintenance of the army, salaries of the civil officers and the personal expenditure of the Sultan.

Means of production

The backbone of Sultanate economy was Agriculture as the soil was really fertile which can grow 2 crops in a year and rice was sown 3 times in a year. Trade with Europe generated a considerable revenue to the Sultanate, where the chief items of export were grain, cotton, precious stones, indigo, hides, opium, spices and sugar. Bengal exported sugar and rice as well as delicate muslin and silk. The coast of Coromandel had become a centre of textile. Gujrat was now the entry point of foreign goods.

Industries

This was before the advent of industrial revolution so the only industrial existence were cottage industries. The labour employed were the family members; The technique used then was conservative. Weaving and spinning of cotton were the cottage industries during that period. The Sultans took a hand in building up big enterprises known as the 'Karkhanas.' Craftsmen were employed under the direct supervision of officials Textile industry was one of the biggest industry at that time exporting the product to all over the world.

A uniform tax was levied on goods at the point of their entry into the empire. Road cases or Rahdari was declared illegal, though it continued to be collected by some of the local rajas. This was used to maintain good roads. The Sultanate Period was in all a Golden Period which capitalized well on both land and people of India.

Thank you

Hopefully you get help from this

With regards

Saifi Aleem