The administrative term 'Khalisa' used during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods denoted which of the following?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Khalisa lands were crown lands during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal administration, and their revenues went directly to the imperial treasury rather than being assigned as jagirs. Land revenue from these tracts formed a major source of sustenance for the central administration and the royal household. Unlike tax-free religious grants or lands held by autonomous chiefs, these estates remained under direct bureaucratic supervision. During the Mughal era, Aurangzeb notably expanded the area under Khalisa to meet rising administrative expenses.