Name the four important departments formed for effectively running the administration of the state during the Delhi Sultanate. State the functions of each department.

Four important departments formed for effectively running the administration of the state during the Delhi Sultanate were:

1. Diwan-i-Wizarat — It was the revenue department dealing with income and expenditure of the state. It was the most important department of the Sultanate.
2. Diwan-i-Arz — It was the military department dealing with recruitment of troops, payment of salaries and periodical inspection of the forces. Balban was the first to set up such a department in India.
3. Diwan-i-Insha — It was the department of state correspondence. It dealt with all the correspondence between the ruler and the kings of other states, drafting of royal proclamations and letters to provincial governors and officers.
4. Diwan-i-Risalat — This department dealt with religious matters, pious foundations and stipends to scholars and men of piety.