[Solved] Alauddin Khalji's Price Control | Motives and Markets

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:

[U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2005]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

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.

Authentic Source Evidence

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.

Analytical Breakdown

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.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

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

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.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

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

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Shahna-i-Mandi 2

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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: