Q. In the context of the administration of Delhi Sultanate, ‘diwan-i-arz’ refers to which of the following departments?
Answer: Military department
Notes: Under the Delhi Sultanate, following four were the main departments-Diwan-i-Wizarat, the office of Wazir which also included the finance powers; Diwan-i-Insha dealt with correspondence; Diwan-i-Arz was the military department and Diwan-i-Risalat was the ecclesiastical department. Diwan-i-Arz was started by Balban. This department was under ‘Arz-i-Mumalik’. But, the Sultan was the commander-in-chief. Balban undertook these reforms because he was facing a constant threat from the Mongols who were entrenched in Punjab.