Reforms of Alauddin Khilji : Administrative, Military, Revenue & Economic

In this article, we will discuss about administrative, military, revenue and economic reforms done by the Sultan Alauddin Khilji. We have prepared this short note from the help of NCERT books and Wikipedia.

He Administrative Reforms

Alauddin Khilji was a strong and efficient ruler. He set up a strong central government. He was the highest authority of the state and he believed in the history of divine right. The Sultan started considering himself a representative of God or “Shadow of God”. As a result, he restricted matrimonial relations among nobles and officers as well as he prohibited secret meetings and parties etc. He appointed spies to keep an eye on them and tried to confiscate their excess wealth. He prohibited wine and gambling and refrained himself from these activities. Alauddin Khilji prevented the interference of Ulemas in administration.

Military Reforms

Alauddin Khilji maintained a strong and huge standing army to safeguard his empire.
He introduced the system of branding of horses (dagh) and maintenance of descriptive register of soldiers to prevent false musters and corrupt practices.
Alauddin abolished the Jagir system and paid the salaries in cash.
He fixed the pay of soldiers at 234 tankas a year, with an additional 78 tankas for a soldier maintaining two horses.
Ariz-i-Mumalik was in charge of the appointment of soldiers.

Revenue Reforms

Alauddin Khilji introduced scientific method of measurement of land for the assessment of land revenue.
He imposed heavy taxes on the Sardars, Jagidars and Ulemas.
Jazia was imposed on non-Muslims. They had to pay it along with other taxes like pilgrim tax, octroi etc.
He increased the salaries of revenue officials to check bribery and corruption.
The post of a special officer called “Mustakhraj” was created to collect land revenue from peasants.
He took steps to safeguard the peasants from the demands of corrupt revenue officials by imposing strict punishments even for petty offences.

Economic Reforms (Market Regulations)

Alauddin Khilji introduced the market regulations to help soldiers and to make ends meet. Prices of all articles of common use were fixed. Separate department and special officers were appointed to regulate the market. The price fixed in the capital was applicable to all towns.

Price List

Wheat per mana 7 1/2 jitals
Rice per mana 5 jitals
Pulses per mana 5 jitals
Barley per mana 4 jitals
Sesamum per mana 3 sers 1 jital
Ghee per 2 1/2 sers 1 jital
Sugar per 1 1/2 sers 1 1/2 jitals
One horse 100 to 200 tankas
One cow 4 to 5 tankas
Male slave 100 to 200 tankas
Female slave 40 to 50 tankas

Grains were stored in government granaries. The storage was meant for emergencies like times of scarcity and famine. Any trader or vendor who cheated in weights and measurements were punished with cutting of an equal weight of flesh from his body (thighs).

The last days of Allaudin Khilji were unhappy. He was poisoned by his trusted general Malik Kafur. He died in 1316 CE.

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Muslim Dynasties