RAS question
Razia Sultan (1236–1240) was the daughter of:
Correct answer: (A) Iltutmish.
Razia Sultan, who ruled Delhi from 1236 to 1240, was the daughter of Shams-ud-din Iltutmish.
Explanation
Razia Sultan’s father was Shams-ud-din Iltutmish. The SRDC account says Razia succeeded her father to the Sultanate of Delhi in 1236, and that Iltutmish designated his daughter Razia as heir apparent. This fits the standard examination point: Iltutmish judged Razia more capable than his sons and nominated her as his successor. Her rule matters because she became the first and only woman to sit on the throne of Delhi, although her position faced resistance from Turkish nobles. So the relationship asked in the question is not a loose dynastic association; it is the direct father-daughter link between Iltutmish and Razia, tied to her succession in 1236.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Alauddin Khalji is wrong because the cited SRDC page identifies Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, not Alauddin Khalji, as the father whom Razia succeeded.
- (C) Balban is wrong because the source specifically says Razia succeeded her father Shams-ud-din Iltutmish to the Sultanate of Delhi in 1236.
- (D) Qutbuddin Aibak is wrong because the source names Iltutmish as Razia’s father and says he designated his daughter Razia as heir apparent.
Concept
This tests Delhi Sultanate succession under the Mamluk rulers, a recurring RAS medieval-history theme because questions often turn on precise ruler-family links and succession facts. Razia’s accession is especially examinable because it combines dynasty, gender, and elite opposition in one compact fact.