45th B.P.S.C. Prelims 2001

Medieval Humanitarianism

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following sultans provided employment to the unemployed?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Firuz Shah Tughlaq's administration was unique for its 'welfare state' approach. He believed the state had a responsibility to ensure the economic survival of its subjects.

Explanation Firuz Shah Tughlaq established a specialized Employment Bureau (Daftar-i-Berozgari). Kotwals (police chiefs) were ordered to send names of the unemployed to the court, and suitable jobs were found for them in government departments or karkhanas.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option C is correct. This measure, along with free hospitals and marriage bureaus, earned him a reputation as a benevolent monarch.
Logic 2: Unlike Alauddin (A) who used state power for military control, Firuz used it for social stability and religious merit.

Active Recall

Question

What other welfare institutions did Firuz Shah establish?

Answer

He established free hospitals (Dar-ul-Shafa) and a charity department (Diwan-i-Khairat) for the poor.

Core Insight

Firuz Shah's employment bureau was the first state-run attempt at systematic poverty alleviation in Indian history.