Agrarian Policies of Alauddin Khilji

 The government instructed the tax collection officers to extract cash under any pretext. In
the case of Hindu Chiefs and revenue collectors, particularly economically-motivated
tension (banned Kismati-i-Khote) was put in place to reduce them to absolute poverty.
 He ordered a thorough inquiry of, audit and supervision of their accounts. Iqtadars were
placed under surveillance for a long time. He also imposed the Kharaj tax, Jiziya, and
Gharia-Charai on peasants. This is a savage step against the already suffering peasants.
 The peasants were asked to sell their excess themselves. Merchants were compelled to set
up along the bank of the river Yamuna and then purchase from peasants for a fixed price
and then sell them at the mandi of state for an agreed price.
 The ruler also introduced the land measurements (Zabita) to be the base of the assessment
in the assessment of land. Biswa was the most common measure. Alauddin was a
commander of an enormous army. How could he afford to pay for such an army? One
option was to increase the amount, but that was not feasible. So, he opted for market
reforms.
 To keep his soldier’s content and to make sure that they were happy, he fixed the price of
all products sold on the market. He established the new ministry- Diwan-i-Riyasat, to
oversee reforms in the field. Malik Kafur made its head. He captured Malik Kafur from
the Gujarat campaign.
 He established three regulations: the grains market (Sahna-i-mandi), cloth and grocery
marketplace (Sarai ADL), horses and cattle, and the slave market. His policies were
highly successful, as there was no rebellion against them.

Land Grants and Kharaj Tax

 The old Hindu terms for taxes, including. Bhaga, Bhoga and Kara were still in use in the
past; however, their meaning and the demand had changed. Bhaga is now the term used to
describe revenue from the land; Bhoga meant cess, and Kharaj tax was a reference to
other taxes. These three were the foundations of land grants to nobles in Khilji.

 When the state demand is related, Alauddin made the harshest possible increase in tax
demand until that point. He set the state demand at 50% of the yield for Biswa
production.
 The agricultural tax rate at 50 per cent was the highest amount under Khilji compared to
other Sultans and Kings in India. He also imposed taxes on the house (Ghari) and pasture
taxes (Charai, also known as Chari) upon the majority of the agricultural population.

Administration after Alauddin

 When Alauddin passed away, the system was wiped out. Then, Mohammad Tughlaq
somehow tried to revive the Khilji’s system. He tried to set up a pilot project in a small
area in Doab. However, the pilot project fell apart like most of his previous ventures.

 Alauddin Khilji modified his tax policies to increase the size of his Treasury to pay the
salaries of his army and fund his expansionist wars. The tax on agriculture was increased
from 20 per cent to 50%, payable in grains and agriculture products (or cash), Eliminating
commissions and payments on taxes collected by the local chief.

 Alauddin Khilji implemented four taxes against non-Muslims within the Sultanate: Jizya
(poll tax) and the kharaj tax (land tax), and the Ghari (house tax) and Chari (pasture tax).
Revenue allocations to Muslim jagirdars also were cancelled, and the central
administration took the money. Alauddin Khilji’s taxation techniques and higher taxes
decreased agricultural output, while the sultanate was hit by massive inflation.

 Khalisa – Doab increase in taxation and subsequent implementation of that.