Administration Under Delhi Sultanate

India saw a new administration system under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate.
The Delhi Sultans followed the laws of Sharia for administration. The
Sultans or nobles of the kingdom held political, legal and military authority.
The Administration Under Delhi Sultanate heavily followed the laws of
Islam.

The Administration During Delhi Sultanate was instrumental in improvising

the working of Indian provinces and laid the foundation of the coming
Mughal administration system. The rule of Delhi Sultans started with the
Turkish Ruler Mehmud Ghazni. The Sultans acted as representatives of the
Caliph. Administration During Delhi Sultanate was comprised of Central,
Provincial, and Local administrations.

Central Administration Under Delhi Sultanate

  The Sultan was the head of the Empire. After the Sultan, all his
children had equal rights for the throne, i.e. they didn't follow the
hierarchical succession of the throne.
 Several ministers handled different departments assigned to them.
Some of the major titles in central administration during the Delhi
Sultanate are:

1. Wazir: Prime Minister of the State and in charge of Revenue and

Finance (Diwan-i-Wizarat)
2. Ariz-i-Mumalik: Head of Diwan-i-Ariz (Military Department)
3. Qazi: Head of the Legal Office
4. Sadr-us-Sudur: Head of Diwan-i-Risalat (Department of Religious
Affairs)
5. Qazi-ul-Quzar: Head of Diwan-i-Qaza-i-Mamalik (Justice
Department)
6. Amir-i-Majilis: Ministers of royal feasts and festivals.

 The Naib was next to Sultan in the hierarchy of authority and virtually
had the same powers. The post of Wazir was right beneath the Naib.
The Ariz-i-Mumalik was in charge of recruiting and training the
military personnel, but the Sultan himself acted as the army's
Commander-in-chief.
 Diwan-i-Risalat, another important department, granted funds for
madrasas, tombs and mosques. It also patronised scholars. The head of
the Diwan-i-Risalat, Chief Sadr, also worked as Chief Qazi, the head
of the justice system.

Provincial Administration Under Delhi Sultanate

 During Sultanate rule, the kingdom was divided into smaller provinces
called Iqtas. Each Iqta was looked after by an Iqtadar.
 This unique system of land distribution evolved in the reign of
Iltutmish.
 Every Iqta was assigned nobles, officers, and soldiers for smooth
administration.
  Small Iqtas were held by individual troopers with no administrative
responsibility.
 The Iqtas were transferred, i.e. Iqtadars were assigned different Iqtas
after 3-4 years.
 Iqtas (provinces) were divided into Shiqs (districts), which were
further divided into Pargana (sub-districts). The village was the
smallest unit of land.
 Provincial officers included:
o Amir: Governor
o Mukti/Wali: Tax collector, Law and Order In-charge.
o Nazir/Wakuf: In charge of revenue collection.
o Shiqdar: Officer in charge of Shiq

Local Administration Under Delhi Sultanate

 Village administration or local Administration During Delhi

Sultanate was handled by assigned officers and the village panchayat.
 The local officers were responsible for the overall development of the
villages.
 Central Government did not interfere with the Village administration.
 Some village officers include:
o Amil: In charge of land revenue and taxes
o Hazamdars: In charge of finance
o Qazi: In charge of developmental records
o Shiqdar: Criminal officials