[Solved] Iltutmish: First Sultan to Make Delhi the Capital

Who was the first Sultan of Delhi who introduced regular coins and declared Delhi the capital of his empire?

[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]

⚡ Generate AI Quick Summary

Correct Option: B

Sultan Iltutmish was the first to introduce regular coinage and declare Delhi as the capital of the Sultanate. He introduced the silver Tanka and copper Jital.

A. Nasiruddin Mahmud

B. Iltutmish

C. Aram Shah

D. Balban

Analysis & Evidence

Concept

While Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Sultanate, it was his successor Iltutmish who consolidated its administration and gave it a distinct political and economic identity.

Authentic Source Evidence

Historical records confirm Iltutmish moved the capital from Lahore to Delhi and established the first independent bimetallic currency of the Sultanate.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Iltutmish introduced the Silver Tanka and the Copper Jital, standardizing the economic medium for the first time.

Logic 2: He shifted the capital from Lahore to Delhi in 1211 CE for better strategic control and defense against Mongol threats.

Historical Logic Quest

"Why is Iltutmish called the 'Real Founder' of the Delhi Sultanate?"

Because he secured a letter of investiture from the Caliph, established a stable capital at Delhi, and introduced a unified currency system.

The Topper's Edge

"The shift to Delhi transformed the Sultanate from a frontier military outpost into a centralized imperial state."

Analysing the UPSC previous year question paper is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly solving and analyzing these questions helps you decode the examiner's mindset, identify recurring historical themes, and build the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practise UPSC PYQ here with interactive question sets to learn and sharpen your edge!