Option a is the correct answer. The Nizam Shahis were actually associated with the region of Ahmednagar, not Bijapur. The Deccan Sultanates were Islamic states that emerged in the Deccan region of South India during the medieval period. They were ruled by five different dynasties of the medieval period that ruled in Golconda, Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmednagar, and Berar of South-Central India. Important Tips Different dynasties of the Deccan Sultanates: Ahmednagar Sultanate: Ruled by the Nizam Shahi dynasty, it was established by Malik Ahmed Shah Bahri. Bijapur Sultanate: Ruled by the Adil Shahi dynasty, it was founded by Ismail Adil Shah in 1490 A.D. Berar Sultanate: Founded by Fath-Ullah Imad-ulMulk in 1490, it was ruled by the Imad Shahi dynasty. Golkonda Sultanate: The ruling family of the sultanate of Golkonda was the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Bidar Sultanate: Founded by Qasim Barid after its independence in 1528, it was the smallest of all the five Deccan sultanates and ruled by the Barid Shahi dynasty.