Previous Year Question

During Alauddin Khalji's reign, 1296–1316 CE, the Delhi Sultanate repeatedly faced Mongol invasions from the north-west.

In 1299 CE, the Mongols under Qutlugh Khwaja advanced close to Delhi. They again placed Delhi under serious pressure in 1303 CE, when Alauddin was occupied with his Chittor campaign.

These repeated invasions compelled Alauddin to maintain a large permanent standing army, strengthen the frontier forts and introduce military measures such as Dagh, the branding of horses, and Chehra, the descriptive roll of soldiers.

Around 1306 CE, the Mongols were decisively pushed back. Thereafter, in the examination context used in this question, the Ravi River became the effective boundary between the Delhi Sultanate and the Mongol territories.

Ghazi Malik, who later became Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, also played an important role in defending the north-western frontier and checking Mongol incursions.

Along with their military defeats, the death of Duwa Khan in 1306 and internal conflict within the Mongol Khanate weakened Mongol pressure considerably. Major Mongol attacks on Delhi subsequently declined.