Alauddin Khalji's Market Policy | Shahna and Doab
Both statements are correct: Alauddin Khalji used inspectors called 'Shahna' to regulate prices and mandated direct grain revenue from the Doab to ensure market supply.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class VII - Our Pasts II
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Exam Year
2015
Evidence Source
UPSC Level
Consider the following statements about Alauddin Khilji's market policy:
1. He placed markets under the control of a high officer called 'Shahna' for strictly controlling the shopkeepers and prices.
2. In order to ensure a regular supply of cheap foodgrains, he ordered the land revenue from Doab region to be paid directly to the state. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
[UPSC CDS II 2015]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Alauddin Khalji's market reforms were a radical attempt at 'command economy' intended to keep the cost of living low so he could pay his soldiers lower salaries.
Authentic Source Evidence
He established the Shahna-i-Mandi to oversee the grain markets and ensure no hoarding or overpricing occurred. To keep the Mandis stocked, he ordered that revenue from the fertile Doab region be collected directly in grain rather than cash.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What was the primary motive behind Alauddin's market policy?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"Alauddin's system was the first historical instance of a comprehensive state-controlled public distribution system (PDS) in India."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)
Analysing authentic UPSC CDS IIprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Khalji Economic Reforms helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Alauddin Khalji market policy and Shahna-i-Mandi builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →