Question

Alauddin Khilji rigidly enforced 'market control' or economic regulations for _____.

• A. building up a large and contented army with small salaries
• B. curbing dishonest merchants and traders
• C. both (a) and (b) above
• D. none of the above
  

Answer 1

The correct option is C both (a) and (b) above

Alauddin Khilji maintained a large standing army. He managed to raise such a large army by paying relatively low salaries to his soldiers and introduced market price controls to ensure that the low salaries were acceptable to his soldiers.

He introduced 4 markets in Delhi viz.

• For Grains
• For cloths, sugar, dry fruits, oil & butter
• For horses, slaves & cattle
• For miscellaneous commodities
• Each market was under the control of a high officer called “Shahna-i-Mandi”.
• Secret agents ” Munhiyans” were appointed to report functioning of these markets to sultan.
• He was the only known ruler in the history of India to have fixed the prices of different commodities, rigidly enforced quality control and ensured easy availability of essential commodities & if anyone found cheating, he was measured with harsh punishment.