After consolidating his power, Balban assumed the grand title of

Correct answer: (3) Zil-i-Ilahi. After consolidating his power Balban assumed the grand title Zil-i-Ilahi — a divinely tinged epithet signifying the ruler as God’s shadow or representative on earth. Contemporary assessments of Balban stress his deliberate cultivation of royal majesty and sacral kingship; he asserted that he ruled as the representative of God and used ceremonial practices to restore the prestige of the crown and to intimidate unruly nobles [1]. Reference compilations and modern exam guides likewise record that Balban adopted the title Zil-i-Ilahi after strengthening his authority, reflecting his effort to legitimize centralized, authoritarian rule.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > State and Society > p. 148