Correct Option
The correct option is50 per cent
Explanation
Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316 CE) introduced drastic agrarian and market reforms to maximize state revenue and maintain a large standing army. His policies aimed to establish a direct relationship between the state and the cultivator, bypassing traditional intermediaries.
Detailed Analysis
- Rate of Taxation: Alauddin Khalji raised the land revenue (Kharaj) to 50 per cent (one-half) of the produce. This was the highest rate of taxation levied during the Delhi Sultanate period.
- Method of Assessment: He was the first Sultan to insist that land revenue be assessed on the basis of measurement of land (Masahat) and the yield per biswa.
- Additional Taxes: Apart from Kharaj, he imposed two new taxes:
- Ghari: A tax on houses.
- Charai: A tax on grazing animals (milch cattle).
- Control over Intermediaries: The traditional rural intermediaries (Khuts, Muqaddams, and Chaudharis) were stripped of their privileges and forced to pay taxes like ordinary peasants.
Key Takeaway: Alauddin Khalji fixed the Kharaj at 50 per cent of the produce and introduced the system of land measurement (Masahat) for revenue assessment.