Correct answer: A. It made it easier for soldiers to live on lower salaries
Explanation: Alauddin Khalji wanted to maintain a large and effective standing army, especially to defend the Delhi Sultanate against invasions and political rivals. Paying a very large army higher salaries would have placed a heavy burden on the treasury. His market regulations therefore aimed to keep the prices of grain, cloth, horses, cattle, and other necessities under control. When essential goods remained relatively cheap, soldiers could meet their daily needs with comparatively lower salaries, allowing the state to support a large force at a manageable cost. Option A expresses this connection correctly. The policy was not designed to close a navy, end the iqta system completely, or promote Mughal painting, so B, C, and D are unrelated.