RAS question
Who was the founder of the Khalji dynasty of Delhi Sultanate?
Correct answer: (D) Jalaluddin Khalji.
Jalaluddin Khalji, also known as Jalal-ud-Din Firuz Khalji, founded the Khalji dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate in 1290.
Explanation
Jalaluddin Khalji is the founder because the Khalji line began with his seizure of power after the last Slave, or Mamluk, ruler Qaiqabad. Britannica identifies him as Jalal-ud-Din Firuz Khalji, the founder of the Khalji dynasty, and notes that he had been the top military commander under the previous Mamluk dynasty. This matters because the question is about dynastic foundation, not the most famous ruler. Jalaluddin ruled from 1290 to 1296 and is remembered for mild and lenient policies. His rule ended when his nephew, Juna Khan, murdered him in 1296 and then ruled as Alauddin Khalji.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Alauddin Khalji was the more famous and powerful Khalji ruler, but Britannica places him after Jalaluddin, identifying him as the nephew who murdered the founder and then ruled as Alauddin.
- (B) Mubarak Shah Khalji cannot be the founder because he came at the end of the dynasty; Britannica describes Qutb al-Din Mubarak Shah as the last Khalji, murdered in 1320.
- (C) Qutb-ud-din Khalji is not a recognised Khalji ruler, so the option confuses the candidate with Khalji-era names rather than naming the dynasty's founder.
Concept
This tests the Delhi Sultanate dynasties section of medieval Indian history, especially founder-successor chronology. RAS repeats such questions because one name, Alauddin Khalji, is much more famous than the actual founder.