Which was the first Delhi Sultan to have a permanent army?

HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: HPSSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Alauddin Khilji was the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate to create a large, permanent standing army.
He paid his soldiers in cash (naqd) directly from the state treasury, a major shift from the previous iqta (land grant) system.
To prevent corruption and maintain efficiency, he introduced the system of branding horses (dagh) and maintaining a descriptive roll of soldiers (chehra).
His famous market control policies were implemented primarily to ensure his soldiers could live on their fixed salaries, thus maintaining a large army at a lower cost.

Option B: Balban strengthened the central army and increased its discipline, but he did not establish a permanent standing army paid in cash. He continued to rely on the iqta system for military organization.
Option C: Firoz Shah Tughlaq's policies were regressive in terms of military administration. He made army posts and iqtas hereditary, which weakened the Sultan's direct control over the armed forces.
Option D: Ibrahim Lodi was the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate (1517-1526). He ruled almost two centuries after Alauddin Khilji, so he could not have been the first to introduce this reform.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Military and Administrative Reforms of the Delhi Sultanate as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Historical Significance: The creation of a permanent standing army was a revolutionary step in medieval Indian administration. It massively increased the central government's power.
Military Impact: This professional army successfully repelled numerous and formidable Mongol invasions, saving the subcontinent from the devastation seen in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Administrative Legacy: Khilji's reforms created a more centralized and bureaucratic state, laying the groundwork for future empires. The ability to directly pay and control a large army was crucial for imperial expansion and consolidation.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for the 'first' Delhi Sultan to create a 'permanent army'. This is a factual recall question from medieval Indian history.
Analyze the term 'permanent army': This implies a force maintained year-round, paid and controlled directly by the central state, as opposed to temporary levies from feudal lords.
Evaluate the options based on historical knowledge of the Delhi Sultanate's timeline and key rulers' policies.
Recall or deduce that Alauddin Khilji's reign was marked by significant military and economic centralization to counter Mongol threats.
Contrast Khilji's policies (cash payments, dagh, chehra) with the systems of other rulers like Balban (strengthened army but kept iqta system) and Firoz Tughlaq (made iqtas hereditary), confirming Khilji as the innovator.
Eliminate Ibrahim Lodi as he was the last ruler of the Sultanate and therefore could not be the first to implement this.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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