U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2005

Khalji Economic Administration

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following statements: **Assertion (A):** Alauddin Khalji introduced price control in Delhi. **Reason (R):** He wanted to pay lower wages to the artisans building his palaces in Delhi. Select the correct answer from the code given below:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Alauddin Khalji’s market reforms were a masterpiece of military logistics. By fixing prices, he could maintain a massive permanent standing army on modest salaries without causing economic distress.

Explanation Satish Chandra explains that the primary objective was ensuring a large army could be maintained against the Mongols. He established specific markets like Mandi (grain) and Sera-i Adl (manufactured goods) with state-regulated pricing.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Assertion (A) is true. Price regulation was strictly enforced in and around Delhi through the *Shahna-i-Mandi*.
Logic 2: Reason (R) is false. The goal was military sustainability and preventing inflation; there is no historical evidence that it was specifically designed to underpay artisans for palace building.

Active Recall

Question

How did Alauddin ensure the supply of grains at fixed prices?

Answer

He mandated that peasants in the Doab pay half the produce as tax in grain, which was then stored in state granaries to be sold at fixed rates.

Core Insight

Alauddin's price control was a form of 'command economy' designed to subsidize the military through administrative force rather than purely market dynamics.