Which Sultan of Delhi is historically known for shifting his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (in the Deccan) in an ambitious but controversial move?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with a famous and often criticised decision in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. One of the Sultans attempted to shift the capital of his empire from Delhi in North India to Daulatabad in the Deccan. The plan was ambitious but caused great hardship and is frequently cited as an example of over ambitious or impractical policy making. Identifying the correct ruler is an essential fact in medieval Indian history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The action in question is the shifting of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad.
• The ruler was a Sultan of Delhi, not a Mughal emperor.
• The options list Iltutmish, Akbar, Ghiyas-ud-din Balban and Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
• We assume familiarity with the distinctive policies of major Delhi Sultans.

Concept / Approach:
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, who ruled in the 14th century, is well known for a series of bold but often unsuccessful experiments, including the issue of token currency and the shifting of the capital. He decided to move the capital to Daulatabad (then called Devagiri), presumably to have a more central location for controlling the entire subcontinent. However, the forced migration caused severe suffering and the plan had to be abandoned. Iltutmish and Balban are associated with consolidation and strong rule, while Akbar was a Mughal emperor, not a Delhi Sultan, and did not move his capital to Daulatabad.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the policy: moving the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. Step 2: Recall that this policy is often mentioned in history books as an example of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's ambitious but problematic decisions. Step 3: Confirm that Iltutmish and Balban, earlier Sultans, did not undertake such a move. Step 4: Recognise that Akbar was a Mughal ruler who shifted his main residence between places like Agra and Fatehpur Sikri, not to Daulatabad. Step 5: Conclude that the Sultan behind the Delhi to Daulatabad shift was Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard narratives of the Tughlaq dynasty highlight Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's relocation of the capital as one of his most controversial policies. They describe how he ordered the population of Delhi to move to Daulatabad, how the journey caused death and hardship, and how the capital was later shifted back. These accounts clearly name him, not Iltutmish, Balban or any Mughal, as the author of this decision. This cross checking firmly supports Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Iltutmish: Known for consolidating the Delhi Sultanate and introducing the silver tanka, but not for shifting the capital to Daulatabad.
Akbar: A Mughal emperor whose capitals were mainly in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri; he was not a Delhi Sultan and is not associated with Daulatabad as capital.
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban: A strong ruler famous for his policy of kingship and suppression of nobles; he did not relocate the capital to the Deccan.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse medieval and Mughal rulers or remember that Akbar moved between several capitals and mistakenly attribute every capital shift to him. Another error is to mix up Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's policies, such as token currency and taxation experiments, and forget which one involved Daulatabad. A simple memory aid is to associate Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq with both token currency and the Delhi to Daulatabad capital move, marking him as an over ambitious planner whose experiments often failed.

Final Answer:
The Sultan of Delhi who shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad was Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.