Delhi-sultanate / Delhi Sultanate / Administration During Delhi Sultanate Period

Administration During Delhi Sultanate Period

  • The Delhi sultanate brought a new ruling class and administrative system to India.
  • The Sultanate was headed by the Sultan and assisted by nobles, with various other offices.
  • There was a council of Ministers, Majlis-i-Khalwat, to theoretically assist the Sultan.
  • The Sultanate administration was known as the Turko-Afghan setup in India and the Sultans saw themselves as representatives of the Caliph.
  • Iltutmish was the first Sultan to receive recognition from the Caliph.
  • The Delhi sultanate was neither a theocratic nor secular state and depended on the ruler.
  • Mullahs interpreted shariyath and Qajis executed it.
  • Territorial administration was divided into shiqs controlled by shiqdar, paraganas controlled by amil, and villages controlled by headmen (called muqaddam, chaudhri, or khut).
  • Patwaries were the village accountants.
  • The lands were classified into three categories: iqta land, khalisa land, and inam land.