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Since the grant of diwani for Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765, the major concern of the East India Company’s administration in India was to collect as much revenue as possible. agriculture was the main basis of economy and the main Source Of Income and hence, although the nawabi administration was retained with Muhammad Reza Khan acting as the Naib Diwan for the Company, several land revenue experiments were introduced in haste to maximise extraction.
In 1772, Warren Hastings introduced a new system, known as the farming system. European District Collectors, as the nomenclature suggested, were to be in charge of revenue collection, while the revenue collecting right was farmed out to the highest bidders. About the periodicity of the settlements, a number of experiments were made.
But the farming system ultimately failed to improve the situation, as the farmers tried to extract as much as possible without any concern for the production process. The burden of revenue demand on th peasants increased as a result and often it was so onerous that it could not be collected at all. The net outcome of this whole period of rash experimentation was the ruination of the agricultural Population. In 1784, Lord Cornwallis was therefore sent to India with a specific mandate to streamline the revenue administration.
Up to 1793 A.D., The East India Company continued to follow the revenue farming system in Bengal Presidency. In 1782, Sir John Shore Committee was appointed to draft a new land revenue policy. The policy was approved by Michael Dundas, The President of Board of Control and William Pete the P.M. of England.
Permanent Settlement
The Permanent Settlement or Zamindari Sysem was introduced by Lord Corniwallis in 1793. In Bengal, North Cauvery Delta in Madras Presidency and Varanasi division. It covered altogether 19% of the total cultivable land under company rule.
Terms and Conditions of the System
- Zamindars were recognized as owner of the lands. Zamindars were given the rights to collect the rent from the peasants.
- The realized amount would be divided into 11 parts. 1/11 of the share belongs to Zamindars and 10/11 of the share belongs to East India Company.
- The Zamindars were also given Judicial powers
- The Sunset Law come into force in the event of Zamindars becoming defaulters.
- The system was introduced for a period of 10 years.
Effect of the system
- The effects of this system both on the zamindars and ryots were disastrous. As the revenue fixed by the system was too high, many zamindars defaulted on payments. Their property was seized and distress sales were conducted leading to their ruin. The rich zamindars who led luxurious lives left their villages and migrated into towns. They entrusted their rent collection to agents who exacted all kinds of illegal taxes besides the legal ones from the ryots.
- This had resulted in a great deal of misery amongst the peasants and farmers. Therefore Lord Cornwallis’ idea of building a system of benevolent land-lordism failed. Though initially the Company gained financially, in the long run the Company suffered financial loss because land productivity was high, income from it was meagre since it was a fixed sum. It should be noted that in pre- British period a share on the crop was fixed as land tax.
Ryotwari Settlement
The Ryotwari experiment was started by Alexander Reed in Baramahal in 1792 and was continued by Thomas Munro from 1801 when he was asked to take charge of the revenue administration of the Ceded Districts. Instead of zamindars they began to collect revenue directly from the village , fixing the amount each village had to pay. After this they proceeded to assess each cultivator or ryot separately and thus evolved the Ryotwari System. It created individual proprietary right in land, but it was vested in the peasants, rather than in the zamindars.
Effects of System
- It raised the revenue income of the government, but put the cultivators in great distress.
- In many areas no surveys were carried out and the tax of a ryot was assessed on an arbitrary basis, based on village accounts.
- The cultivating peasants were, therefore, gradually impoverished, and increasingly indebted and could not invest for the extension of cultivation.
- The Ryorwari system did not also eliminate village elites as inter mediaries between the government and the peasantry. As privileged rents and special rights of the mirasidars were recognised and caste privileges of the Brahmans respected.
Mahalwari System
Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 during the period of William Bentick. It was introduced in Central Province, North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic Valley, etc of British India.The Mahalwari system had many provisions of both the Zamindari System and Ryotwari System. In this system, the land was divided into Mahals. Each Mahal comprises one or more villages. Ownership rights were vested with the peasants. The villages committee was held responsible for collection of the taxes.
Effects of the Land Revenue Policy
- Land become a Commodity for the first time in Indian history
- Property rights in the land created for first time
- New rural classes were formed- The absentee landlords, Money lenders and age earning working class.
- Commercialisation of agriculture encouraged. As a result , shortage of Food Crops took place causing famines. The 1832 Ganjan famine(Orissa) and 1875 deccan famine were the worst famines.
- The revenue policy was the single most important cause for all the major civilian rebellions in modern India, against the British.
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The land revenue system under British rule was a complex and ever-changing system that was designed to extract as much revenue as possible from the Indian peasantry. The three main systems of land revenue collection were the Permanent Settlement, the Ryotwari System, and the Mahalwari System.
The Permanent Settlement was introduced in Bengal in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. Under this system, the British government granted large tracts of land to a select group of Indian landlords, known as zamindars, in return for a fixed annual payment. The zamindars were then responsible for collecting revenue from the peasants who worked the land.
The Ryotwari System was introduced in Madras in 1802 by Lord Wellesley. Under this system, the British government collected revenue directly from the peasants. The peasants were given a permanent right to cultivate the land, and they were required to pay a fixed annual rent to the government.
The Mahalwari System was introduced in the North-Western Provinces in 1822 by Lord Hastings. Under this system, the British government collected revenue from groups of villages, known as mahals. The revenue from each mahal was divided among the peasants who worked the land, according to the size of their holdings.
All three of these systems had their own advantages and disadvantages. The Permanent Settlement was relatively easy to administer, but it led to a great deal of inequality, as the zamindars often exploited the peasants. The Ryotwari System was more equitable, but it was more difficult to administer. The Mahalwari System was a compromise between the other two systems, but it was also difficult to administer.
In the late 19th century, the British government began to introduce a number of Land reforms in an attempt to improve the lives of the Indian peasantry. These reforms included the introduction of tenancy laws, which gave peasants greater security of tenure, and the introduction of Irrigation schemes, which helped to increase agricultural productivity.
The land revenue system under British rule was a complex and ever-changing system that had a profound impact on the Indian peasantry. The system was designed to extract as much revenue as possible from the peasants, but it also had a number of unintended consequences, including the Growth of inequality and the exploitation of the peasantry. In the late 19th century, the British government began to introduce a number of land reforms in an attempt to improve the lives of the Indian peasantry. These reforms had some success, but they did not fundamentally alter the system of land revenue collection.
The land revenue system under British rule was a major source of conflict between the British government and the Indian people. The peasants resented the high levels of Taxation and the exploitation by the zamindars. The Indian National Congress, the leading nationalist organization, made land reform one of its key demands. After independence, the Indian government introduced a number of land reforms, which abolished the zamindari system and gave peasants greater security of tenure. These reforms had a significant impact on the lives of the Indian peasantry.
What is the Land Revenue System?
The Land Revenue System is a system of taxation that was used by the British in India. It was a system of collecting taxes on land, and it was based on the idea that the government owned all land in India.
How did the Land Revenue System work?
The Land Revenue System was based on the idea that the government owned all land in India. The government would then lease land to farmers, and the farmers would pay taxes to the government in return for the use of the land.
What were the benefits of the Land Revenue System?
The Land Revenue System had a number of benefits. It provided a stable source of income for the government, and it helped to promote Economic Development in India.
What were the drawbacks of the Land Revenue System?
The Land Revenue System also had a number of drawbacks. It was a very complex system, and it was often difficult for farmers to understand how it worked. Additionally, the system was often unfair, and it led to a great deal of POVERTY in India.
What was the impact of the Land Revenue System on India?
The Land Revenue System had a profound impact on India. It helped to shape the country’s economy and Society, and it continues to influence India today.
What are some of the criticisms of the Land Revenue System?
Some of the criticisms of the Land Revenue System include that it was unfair, that it was complex, and that it was not efficient.
What are some of the reforms that have been proposed for the Land Revenue System?
Some of the reforms that have been proposed for the Land Revenue System include making it simpler, making it fairer, and making it more efficient.
What is the future of the Land Revenue System?
The future of the Land Revenue System is uncertain. It is possible that the system will be reformed, or that it will be replaced by a new system.
Question 1
The Permanent Settlement was introduced in:
(a) 1793
(b) 1801
(c) 1813
(d) 1833
Answer
(a)
The Permanent Settlement was introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. It was a system of land revenue collection in which the zamindars, or landlords, were given permanent ownership of the land in return for a fixed annual payment to the British government.
Question 2
The Ryotwari system was introduced in:
(a) 1793
(b) 1801
(c) 1813
(d) 1833
Answer
(c)
The Ryotwari system was introduced in 1813 by Lord Cornwallis. It was a system of land revenue collection in which the ryots, or peasants, were directly responsible for paying the land revenue to the British government.
Question 3
The Mahalwari system was introduced in:
(a) 1793
(b) 1801
(c) 1813
(d) 1833
Answer
(d)
The Mahalwari system was introduced in 1833 by Lord William Bentinck. It was a system of land revenue collection in which the revenue was collected from a group of villages, or mahals, as a whole.
Question 4
The Inamdari system was a system of land grants:
(a) To religious institutions
(b) To educational institutions
(c) To charitable institutions
(d) All of the above
Answer
(d)
The Inamdari system was a system of land grants to religious institutions, educational institutions, and charitable institutions. The grants were made in perpetuity, and the inamdars, or grantees, were not required to pay any land revenue.
Question 5
The Jagirdari system was a system of land grants:
(a) To military officers
(b) To civil servants
(c) To both military officers and civil servants
(d) None of the above
Answer
(c)
The Jagirdari system was a system of land grants to military officers and civil servants. The grants were made in perpetuity, and the jagirdars, or grantees, were not required to pay any land revenue.
Question 6
The British East India Company was granted the Diwani of Bengal in:
(a) 1765
(b) 1772
(c) 1784
(d) 1793
Answer
(a)
The British East India Company was granted the Diwani of Bengal in 1765. The Diwani gave the Company the right to collect land revenue in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
Question 7
The British East India Company was granted the Nizamat of Bengal in:
(a) 1765
(b) 1772
(c) 1784
(d) 1793
Answer
(b)
The British East India Company was granted the Nizamat of Bengal in 1772. The Nizamat gave the Company the right to collect criminal Justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
Question 8
The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed by the British Parliament to:
(a) Regulate the affairs of the British East India Company
(b) Establish a Supreme Court in Bengal
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
Answer
(c)
The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the British East India Company and to establish a Supreme Court in Bengal.
Question 9
The Pitt’s India Act of 1784 was passed by the British Parliament to:
(a) Regulate the affairs of the British East India Company
(b) Establish a Board of Control
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
Answer
(c)
The Pitt’s India Act of 1784 was passed by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the British East India Company and to establish a Board of Control. The Board