CUET UG History: Medieval India - Delhi Sultanate, Administrative System, Economy, Alauddin's Reforms

Must-Know (15–20 detailed bullets)

• The Delhi Sultanate operated under the Iqta system, where officials were granted revenue rights over territories in lieu of salary; for example, during Alauddin Khalji’s reign, iqtadars were strictly monitored to prevent autonomy.
• Diwan-i-Wizarat was headed by the Wazir, responsible for revenue and general administration; it was a key department in the central administration of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Diwan-i-Arz was the military department, established more efficiently under Ghiyasuddin Balban, who introduced the dagh (branding) system and chehra (descriptive roll) for soldiers.
• Alauddin Khalji ruled from 1296 to 1316 CE; his military campaigns included the conquest of Gujarat (1299), Ranthambore (1301), Chittor (1303), and Malwa (1305).
• Alauddin imposed land revenue at 50% of the produce (kharaj) on the Ganga-Yamuna doab region, one of the highest rates in medieval India.
• To control prices, Alauddin set up three markets in Delhi: for grain, cloth, and horses/slaves/cattle, each under strict state regulation.
• The Market Control Policy (1303–1311 CE) fixed prices for essential goods; for instance, a quintal of wheat was priced at 7 tankas and rice at 4 tankas.
• Officers like Shahna-i-Mandi were appointed to supervise markets and ensure compliance with price controls.
• Alauddin banned hoarding (ihtikar) and private trade in food grains, punishing offenders severely to maintain supply.
• He maintained a large standing army, reportedly 475,000 soldiers, verified through periodic reviews and payment directly from the central treasury.
• The Turkan-i-Chihalgani, a group of 40 powerful Turkish nobles, dominated politics during the early Mamluk period, especially under Iltutmish and Balban.
• Balban (r. 1266–1287 CE) introduced Sijda (prostration) and Paibos (kissing the feet) as court rituals to enhance royal authority.
• Revenue officials like Amil collected land revenue, while Arzis were temporary iqtas assigned to officials for short durations under Alauddin.
• The term kankut meant estimation of crop yield based on appearance; it was one of the three methods of revenue assessment (others: batai, khet batai).
• Hundi was a bill of exchange used in long-distance trade during the Sultanate period, indicating development of credit systems.
• Trade routes connected Delhi with Gujarat, Bengal, and Central Asia; horse imports from Central Asia were critical for the military and cost around 100 to 200 tankas per horse.
• Dhimmis were not applicable in the Delhi Sultanate; instead, jizya was a poll tax on non-Muslims, institutionalized more systematically under Firoz Shah Tughlaq (verify from NCERT).
• Alauddin Khalji broke the power of the nobility and Ulema by not seeking their approval for his policies, asserting absolute authority.
• The Tawarikh, written by scholars like Ziauddin Barani, served as political advice literature and primary sources for administrative practices.
• Coins during the Sultanate were issued in silver (tanka) and copper (jital); Alauddin standardized them to ensure uniformity in trade.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate — Requires understanding of administrative structures, economic policies, and specific reforms with numerical data, but most facts are directly from NCERT Class 11 Medieval India textbook.

Common CUET Traps (3 bullets)

• Trap: Believing Alauddin’s market reforms were successful long-term.
  Avoid: His price controls collapsed after his death; they were short-lived (1303–1311 CE), not a permanent system.

• Trap: Confusing Balban’s sijda with Mughal practices.
  Avoid: Balban introduced sijda and paibos to assert divine-like status, but Akbar later abolished such practices; they were specific to mid-13th century Delhi Sultanate.

• Trap: Thinking land revenue was always 50% under all Sultans.
  Avoid: Only Alauddin imposed 50% kharaj in the Doab; earlier rulers like Iltutmish collected one-third; this rate was exceptional, not standard.

Practice MCQs (5 questions)

Q1. Which officer was responsible for maintaining the descriptive roll of soldiers under Balban?
A. Diwan-i-Arz
B. Ariz-i-Mumalik
C. Shahna-i-Mandi
D. Wazir

Answer: B. Ariz-i-Mumalik
Explanation: Ariz-i-Mumalik was the head of Diwan-i-Arz and maintained the chehra (descriptive roll) and dagh (branding) system.
Why others fail: Diwan-i-Arz is the department, not the officer; Shahna-i-Mandi was for market control.

Q2. What was the fixed price of a quintal of wheat in Alauddin Khalji’s market reforms?
A. 5 tankas
B. 6 tankas
C. 7 tankas
D. 8 tankas

Answer: C. 7 tankas
Explanation: Alauddin fixed the price of a quintal of wheat at 7 silver tankas in his regulated grain market.
Why others fail: 5 or 6 tankas are close but incorrect; this figure is explicitly mentioned in NCERT.

Q3. Which of the following was NOT part of Alauddin Khalji’s market control measures?
A. Appointment of Shahna-i-Mandi
B. Fixing prices of cloth and slaves
C. Introduction of token currency
D. Ban on hoarding (ihtikar)

Answer: C. Introduction of token currency
Explanation: Token currency was introduced by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, not Alauddin Khalji.
Why others fail: All other options are correct elements of Alauddin’s economic reforms.

Q4. The land revenue demand of 50% during the Delhi Sultanate was imposed by Alauddin Khalji in which region?
A. Punjab
B. Malwa
C. Ganga-Yamuna Doab
D. Deccan

Answer: C. Ganga-Yamuna Doab
Explanation: Alauddin imposed 50% kharaj only in the fertile Doab region to fund his large army.
Why others fail: Punjab and Malwa were conquered but not taxed at this rate uniformly; Deccan was not under direct control.

Q5. Which administrative department was responsible for military affairs in the Delhi Sultanate?
A. Diwan-i-Risalat
B. Diwan-i-Insha
C. Diwan-i-Arz
D. Diwan-i-Qaza

Answer: C. Diwan-i-Arz
Explanation: Diwan-i-Arz was the military department, managing recruitment, branding, and salaries of soldiers.
Why others fail: Diwan-i-Risalat handled religious affairs; Diwan-i-Insha dealt with royal correspondence.

Last?Minute Revision (15–20 one?liners)

• Alauddin Khalji ruled 1296–1316 CE – not to be confused with Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• 50% kharaj was levied only in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab under Alauddin.
• Three markets in Delhi: grain, cloth, horses/slaves/cattle – each regulated.
• Shahna-i-Mandi = market inspector; key to Alauddin’s price control.
• Dagh and chehra = horse branding and soldier registration under Balban.
• Iqta system: revenue assignment, not land grant – iqtadars could be transferred.
• Wazir headed Diwan-i-Wizarat – chief revenue and administrative officer.
• Ariz-i-Mumalik = head of Diwan-i-Arz – not to be confused with Wazir.
• Kankut = revenue assessment by crop appearance – used in Sultanate.
• Tanka = silver coin; Jital = copper coin – standard currency.
• Hundi = bill of exchange – used in long-distance trade.
• Alauddin did not seek Ulema’s approval – broke tradition to assert authority.
• Turkan-i-Chihalgani = 40 nobles – powerful in Mamluk period.
• Balban introduced Sijda and Paibos – to elevate king’s status.
• Ziauddin Barani wrote Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi – key source for Sultanate politics.
• Market control lasted 1303–1311 CE – collapsed after Alauddin’s death.
• Jizya was formalized under Firoz Shah Tughlaq – not Alauddin (verify from NCERT).
• Alauddin’s army: 475,000 soldiers – one of the largest of medieval times.
• Batai or Khet batai = crop division after harvest – another revenue method.
• Verify from NCERT if unsure about jizya implementation under Alauddin.