Previous Year Question

The correct answer is Iltutmish.

Iqta is an Arabic term which generally refers to the assignment of a portion of territory or the revenue derived from it. Under the Delhi Sultanate, an iqta was a revenue arrangement under which an officer or noble was assigned the right to collect revenue from a particular territory in lieu of salary.

Iltutmish gave the Iqta system a widespread and organized administrative form under the Delhi Sultanate. Instead of paying his Turkish officers entirely in cash, he granted iqtas, or assignments of land revenue, on a large scale. NIOS specifically notes that Iltutmish granted iqtas extensively to his Turkish officers to strengthen control over conquered territories.

The holder of an iqta was generally known as a muqti or iqtadar. He collected revenue from his assigned territory. From this revenue he met administrative expenses, maintained a military contingent and was expected to provide military service to the Sultan when required. IGNOU describes the system as one in which royal officers were assigned territories to realize revenue and maintain troops and cavalry contingents.

However, an iqta should not be understood as private ownership of land. The iqtadar did not become the proprietor of the territory; he primarily received the right to collect specified revenue. The central authority retained control, and iqta holders could be transferred from one assignment to another.

Iltutmish particularly distributed iqtas in the Doab region, thereby strengthening the administrative and financial control of the central government over newly conquered areas. For this reason, his iqta policy is regarded as an important element in the development of the administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate.

An important historical qualification is necessary. The iqta system did not originate in the reign of Iltutmish. It had already developed in earlier Islamic states, and revenue assignments were also used by the early Turkish conquerors in India. More precisely, therefore, Iltutmish institutionalized and expanded the iqta system on a large scale in the Delhi Sultanate. IGNOU traces the system to earlier Islamic states and explains its later adaptation by the Turks in India.

Balban later strengthened central control over iqta holders, while Alauddin Khalji introduced wider revenue and military reforms; but for the wording of this question, the accepted answer is Iltutmish.