In the Delhi Sultanate, the head of the state's news-reporting and intelligence department was the:

In the Delhi Sultanate, the "Barid-i-Mumalik" was the head of the state's news-reporting and intelligence department.

About the Barid-i-Mumalik:

• He was in charge of the system of news-writers and spies, who sent regular reports to the Sultan.
• He collected information about what was happening in all parts of the kingdom, especially about the conduct of officials, nobles and governors, and about any signs of rebellion.
• Under him were local news-writers called "barids", posted in every province, town and important office.
• The reports were sent to the capital through a system of relay runners and horse-riders (the postal system, or "dak chowki").

Importance of the intelligence system:

• The Sultans needed accurate information to control their large kingdoms and powerful nobles.
• Balban organised a very efficient spy system: he appointed reliable barids, paid them well, and punished them severely if they failed to report important matters.
• Alauddin Khalji also had a strong network of spies (munhiyans), who reported even on what the nobles said in their homes; this helped him to prevent conspiracies.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq also maintained an efficient postal and intelligence system; the traveller Ibn Battuta described the speed of the postal runners.

Other officials of the central government:

• "Dabir-i-Khas": the head of the department of royal correspondence.
• "Sadr-us-Sudur": the head of the religious department.
• "Qazi-ul-Quzat": the chief judge.
• "Wakil-i-Dar": the officer in charge of the royal household.
• "Amir-i-Hajib": the officer in charge of court ceremonies, who presented visitors to the Sultan.

The postal system:

Ibn Battuta described two types of post: the horse post (ulaq), with horses changed every few miles, and the foot post (dawa), with runners stationed at every third of a mile.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Ariz-i-Mumalik was an official with different duties.
• ✗The Dabir-i-Khas headed the department of correspondence.
• ✗The Sadr-us-Sudur headed the religious department.