Under whose rule did Delhi become an important commercial centre?

Delhi became an important commercial centre during the reign of Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316), one of the most powerful rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. His rule is especially remembered for strong administrative control, military success, and most importantly, his well-planned economic and market reforms that transformed Delhi into a thriving centre of trade and commerce.

Alauddin Khalji understood that for a strong empire, it was essential to maintain a stable economy and ensure the availability of goods at reasonable prices. At that time, Delhi was growing rapidly as a political capital, and there was a need to supply food grains, clothes, horses, and other goods to a large population, including soldiers, officials, and common people. To meet these needs, Alauddin Khalji introduced a series of reforms that directly contributed to making Delhi a major commercial hub.

One of his most important measures was the introduction of a strict market control system. He established separate markets in Delhi for different kinds of goods such as food grains, cloth, horses, and slaves. Each market was carefully supervised by government officials to ensure that traders followed the rules. Prices of essential commodities were fixed by the state, and no merchant was allowed to charge more than the prescribed rates. This system ensured that goods remained affordable for everyone, especially for the large army maintained by the Sultan.

To make this system effective, Alauddin Khalji appointed a special officer called the Shahna-i-Mandi (market controller), who was responsible for overseeing the functioning of markets. There were also secret spies appointed to keep a watch on traders and officials to prevent corruption, hoarding, and black marketing. If any merchant was found violating the rules, strict punishments were given. This strict discipline created trust and stability in the market system.

Another important step taken by Alauddin Khalji was improving the supply of goods. He made arrangements to ensure a regular supply of grains from rural areas to the city. Farmers