The income of iqtadars working with the Delhi sultans was derived from .....

Category: Delhi Gk

Hint: Consider the administrative system of the Delhi Sultanate and the role of iqtadars.

Correct Answer: B) Revenue derived from their iqtas.

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, State PSC

Difficulty: Moderate

Explanations:

The iqtadari system was a significant administrative and revenue collection mechanism under the Delhi Sultanate. The term "iqtadari" refers to the system of assigning land grants (iqtas) to military officers and nobles. The iqtadars, who were the holders of these iqtas, were responsible for collecting revenue from the land they were granted and using it to maintain their troops and fulfill their administrative duties.

The iqtadari system was a form of decentralization, where the central authority (the king) delegated the responsibility of revenue collection and administration to local officials (iqtadars). This system was designed to ensure that the military and administrative needs of the state were met by distributing the burden of revenue collection across various regions. The iqtadars were expected to manage their iqtas efficiently and remit a portion of the collected revenue to the central treasury.

The revenue collected by the iqtadars came from various sources within their iqtas, including agricultural taxes, land taxes, and other forms of revenue. This system was not limited to trade, either domestic or foreign. The iqtadars were responsible for the overall economic management of their assigned regions, which included agricultural production, local trade, and other economic activities.

It is important to understand that the iqtadari system was not a centralized treasury system where the king directly paid the iqtadars. Instead, the iqtadars were self-sufficient in terms of their income, which was derived from the revenue collected within their iqtas. This system allowed for a degree of autonomy for the iqtadars while ensuring that the central authority maintained control over the overall administration and revenue collection.

The iqtadari system was a crucial aspect of the administrative and economic structure of the Delhi Sultanate, and understanding its workings is essential for comprehending the historical context of governance and revenue collection during this period. The revenue derived from the iqtas was the primary source of income for the iqtadars, making option B the correct answer.

Option Analysis:

Option A: This option is incorrect because the iqtadars did not receive their income directly from the king's treasury. Instead, they collected revenue from the land (iqtas) they were granted.
Option B: This option is correct. The iqtadars derived their income from the revenue collected from the iqtas, which were the administrative divisions they were assigned to manage.
Option C: This option is incorrect because the revenue of iqtadars was not limited to traders. It included all forms of revenue collected from the iqtas, such as agricultural taxes, land taxes, and other forms of revenue.
Option D: This option is incorrect because the revenue of iqtadars was not derived solely from foreign trade. The revenue came from the entire administrative division (iqtas) they were responsible for, which included local agricultural and other forms of revenue.

Mnemonic: IQTADAR: Income from Quotas (iqtas) and Taxes, Administered Regions

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