Explanations:The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim sultanate that ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the early 13th century to the mid-16th century. The sultanate was established in 1206 when Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, declared himself sultan and founded the Mamluk dynasty. Over the centuries, the Delhi Sultanate went through several dynasties, including the Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi dynasties.
During its peak, the Delhi Sultanate controlled vast territories, including parts of present-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. However, by the 16th century, the sultanate's power had significantly diminished due to internal conflicts, invasions, and the rise of regional powers. The Lodi dynasty, which ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the 16th century, faced numerous challenges, including the invasion of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire.
By the early 16th century, the Delhi Sultanate's control was largely limited to the region around Delhi and its immediate surroundings. The sultanate's influence had waned, and it no longer controlled the vast territories it once did. The Lodi sultans were unable to maintain control over distant provinces, and the sultanate's power was confined to the Delhi region.
It is important to note that the Delhi Sultanate's territorial extent in the 16th century should not be confused with the later Mughal Empire, which expanded its control over much of the Indian subcontinent. The Mughal Empire, founded by Babur in 1526, succeeded the Delhi Sultanate and established a new era of centralized rule in India.
Therefore, the correct answer is that in the 16th century CE, the rule of the Delhi Sultanate was confined to Delhi and its surroundings. This reflects the diminished power and territorial extent of the sultanate during this period.