In respect to Balutedars, which of the statements given below are correct?
- 1. They were village servants and artisans.
- 2. They were employed by individual peasant family.
- 3. They existed in the Medieval Deccan and Maharashtra.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
Statement 3 is correct. The Balutedar system was a prominent feature of the village economy and social structure in the Medieval Deccan and Maharashtra regions.
Statement 2 is also considered correct in the context of how the system functioned. While Balutedars served the village community, their compensation (Baluta – a share of the harvest) was often tied to specific peasant families or households with whom they had customary relationships. This formed a sort of patron-client relationship, effectively meaning they were “employed by” or served individual peasant families in return for their share of the produce, alongside serving the broader needs of the village. Therefore, all three statements accurately describe aspects of the Balutedar system.
– They provided essential services (like carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery, etc.) and received payment, usually in kind (grain), known as Baluta.
– The system involved customary service relationships with village families.