Administration of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was a success. Though he faced many problems initially but with his effective administrative measures he was successful in overcoming them. Ghiyas-ud-din faced both internal and external problems. The administrative set-up established by Ala-ud-din Khilji was destroyed by his successors while no steps were taken to establish new one. The nobles and the courtiers had become negligible towards their responsibilities and engaged themselves in fun and frolic. However, Ghiyas-ud-din faced difficulties and succeeded in overcoming them. The first task of Ghiyas-ud-din was to strengthen his position on the throne and for that he tried to conciliate the nobles and the people. He pursued a policy of conciliation with sternness towards the nobles. Ghiyas-ud-din was successful in getting loyalty of his subjects by the administrative measures.
Ghiyas -ud-din attempted to improve the finances of the state and for that purpose, pursued the policy of encouraging agriculture and nig cultivators. His twin objects were to increase the land cultivation and improve the economic condition of the farmers. State demand of revenue was fixed in between one fifth to one third of the produce. The practice of measurement of land which was adopted during the reign of Ala-ud-din was abandoned. Instead, the old system of sharing of the produce was revived. The government officers were asked not to be cruel to the peasants but to look after their welfare. He also improved means of irrigation and plant-gardens. These measures of Ghiyas-ud-din succeeded. The area under cultivation increased and the condition of the farmers improved.
Ghiyas-ud-din improved the means of communication. Roads were repaired and improved. Bridges and canals were also constructed. He improved the postal system. Runners or horsemen were placed at a distance of two-thirds of a mile. The judicial system was also developed by Ghiyas-ud-din. Torture for extracting truth was prohibited. It continued only in cases of thieves or those who embezzled money of the state. Ghiyas-ud-din was a capable military commander and he loved his soldiers as a father loved his sons. He looked after their welfare and paid them well. But he was a strict disciplinarian as well. He strictly enforced the practice of keeping of the soldiers and that of branding of the horses. Two years after his accession, Ghiyas-ud-din succeeded in increasing the strength of his army.
Thus the administrative measures adopted by Ghiyas-ud-din were quite a success and helped him to consolidate his empire.
