ICSE Class 9 · The Delhi Sultanate

Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments (ICSE Class 9 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) fixed prices and set up controlled markets to maintain a large army cheaply, introduced dagh and huliya, and sent Malik Kafur to the Deccan. Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351) tried bold schemes such as transferring the capital to Daulatabad and issuing token currency, which failed for want of planning and trust.

Alauddin's strict controls kept prices low in Delhi, while Tughlaq's bold schemes failed for want of planning and trust.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments

1. Dynasties. Slave (1206-1290), Khilji (1290-1320), Tughlaq (1320-1414), Sayyid (1414-1451), Lodi (1451-1526); the Sultanate ended with Babur's victory at the First Battle of Panipat.

2. Alauddin Khilji: market regulations. Aim: a large standing army to resist Mongols and conquer new lands, paid low salaries that soldiers could live on. Measures: fixed prices for grain, cloth, horses, cattle and slaves; separate markets (such as the grain market and Sarai-i-Adl); officials to watch weights and prices; supply of grain controlled by the state; punishment for cheating. Effect: prices stayed low in Delhi, but the system depended on his strict control and ended after him.

3. Deccan expedition. Malik Kafur led campaigns against the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Kakatiyas of Warangal, the Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra and raided Madurai. Rulers who accepted overlordship and paid tribute usually kept their kingdoms; huge wealth reached Delhi.

4. Military and revenue reforms. A large standing army paid in cash; *dagh* (branding of horses) and *huliya* (descriptive rolls of soldiers) to stop frauds; repair and building of forts. In revenue, land was measured and a large share of the produce was taken as tax, and the privileges of local chiefs (khuts and muqaddams) were reduced.

5. Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351). *Transfer of capital* (1327) from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad) to control the south and keep away from Mongol attacks; it failed through hardship and lack of control over the north. *Token currency*: copper (or brass) coins issued at the value of silver coins; forgery was easy and trade was disrupted, so the coins were withdrawn. *Increased taxation* in the Doab during a famine added to unrest.

Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments: key facts

Dynasties: Slave 1206-1290
Khilji 1290-1320
Tughlaq 1320-1414
Sayyid 1414-1451
Lodi 1451-1526
Alauddin: 1296-1316
Price control
Dagh and huliya
Malik Kafur
Muhammad bin Tughlaq: 1325-1351
Capital to Daulatabad 1327
Token currency
Decline: Over-reliance on control
Lack of planning
Forgery

Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A canteen price rule

Suppose a school canteen fixes the price of a plate and checks the weight of each portion to keep students' lunch cheap.

Which Sultan's policy resembles it?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Prices fixed by authority.
Inspection of quality and weights.

Answer: Alauddin Khilji's market regulations.

Memory hook: Fix and check.

Tricks to remember Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

DH
Dagh horses, Huliya soldiers.
Use it when: Military reforms.
Token = trust
Token coins failed because trust failed.
Use it when: Tughlaq.

Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Dagh · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Explain the terms dagh and huliya. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Dagh: branding of horses.
Huliya: descriptive roll of a soldier.

Answer: Dagh branded horses; huliya recorded soldiers' descriptions, to stop fraud.

Example 2: Market control · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Why did Alauddin Khilji regulate the market? State three steps he took. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

To maintain a large army on low salaries.
Fixed prices of goods.
Set up separate markets with officials.
Punished cheating and controlled the grain supply.

Answer: To support a big army cheaply, by fixing prices, creating controlled markets and punishing cheats.

Example 3: Deccan policy · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

How did Alauddin's Deccan policy differ from his northern policy? [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

In the Deccan Malik Kafur gained tribute and wealth.
Rulers kept kingdoms on accepting overlordship.
In the north he annexed territories and ruled directly.

Answer: In the Deccan rulers paid tribute and kept their lands; in the north he ruled directly.

Example 4: Token currency · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A merchant refuses a copper token that the Sultan says is worth a silver coin. List four chain-of-events reasons why the scheme collapsed. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Copper tokens were given the value of silver coins.
Forging was easy and many people made false coins.
Traders lost trust and refused them.
He had to withdraw them, causing losses.

Answer: Easy forgery and lack of trust led to its withdrawal.

Example 5: Source: capital · 6 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Source. A chronicler says people were forced to move from Delhi to Daulatabad and many suffered on the way. (i) Who ordered the move? [1] (ii) When? [1] (iii) Give two reasons for the plan. [2] (iv) Why did it fail? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
(ii) 1327.
(iii) A central position to control the south and distance from Mongol attacks.
(iv) Hardship, distance from the north and loss of control over the north.

Answer: (i) Muhammad bin Tughlaq (ii) 1327 (iii) Central position and safety (iv) Hardship and distance.

Where students lose marks in Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Mixing Khilji and Tughlaq reforms
Experiments assigned wrongly.
Do this: Token currency is Tughlaq.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Missing dates
No years.
Do this: Add 1296-1316 and 1325-1351.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: One-sided judgment
No balanced view.
Do this: Mention strengths and failures.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

Give dates for every ruler.
State aim before measures.
Link the market policy to the army.
Use balanced language for Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Practice questions on Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Malik Kafur was a general of:
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Alauddin Khilji
(c) Balban
(d) Firoz Tughlaq
Hint
Deccan.
Answer
(b) Alauddin Khilji.
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name two dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate. [2]
Hint
Order.
Answer
Slave and Khilji (any two).
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level
Which battle ended the Sultanate? [1]
Hint
1526.
Answer
The First Battle of Panipat.
Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): Alauddin's price control helped him to keep a large army.
Reason (R): Low prices allowed soldiers to live on low salaries.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Hint
Salaries.
Answer
(a).
Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Describe two sources for the history of the Sultanate. [3]
Hint
Inscriptions.
Answer
Inscriptions in Arabic and Persian on mosques, tombs and forts, and coins showing titles and experiments such as token currency; also monuments like the Qutab Minar.
Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Evaluate Muhammad bin Tughlaq as a ruler: one strength and two reasons for his failures. [3]
Hint
Learned.
Answer
He was learned and imaginative; his schemes failed through poor planning, hardship to people and lack of trust.
Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why did Alauddin reduce the power of local chiefs and nobles? [3]
Hint
Control.
Answer
To prevent revolts and increase revenue and royal control over the land.
Q8 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
What were the effects of the Doab tax increase? [2]
Hint
Famine.
Answer
During famine it caused hardship, flight of peasants and unrest.
Q9 · 4 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency
Source. "Prices in Delhi remained low even in years of poor rain." (i) Whose policy is described? [1] (ii) Name the bazaar for cloth. [1] (iii) Why did the system end after him? [2]
Hint
Sarai-i-Adl.
Answer
(i) Alauddin Khilji. (ii) Sarai-i-Adl. (iii) It depended on his strong control and strict punishments, which weakened afterwards.
Q10 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Compare Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq on aims, methods and results. [4]
Hint
Contrast.
Answer
Alauddin aimed at military strength and used strict control with success in his lifetime; Muhammad aimed at better rule through bold schemes, but poor planning and lack of support caused failures.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Alauddin's general?Show answer
Malik Kafur.
2.Capital moved to?Show answer
Daulatabad.
3.Year of transfer?Show answer
1327.
4.Cloth market?Show answer
Sarai-i-Adl.
5.Dynasty after the Khiljis?Show answer
Tughlaq.

Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq: Reforms and Experiments: frequently asked questions

What is huliya?

A descriptive roll of soldiers.

Why were Mongols a threat?

They invaded the north-west repeatedly.

Who was Ibrahim Lodi?

The last Sultan, defeated at Panipat.