Revenue system during British Rule

Presented by: Harjit Singh Pinegrove School, Dharampur Distt.Solan (H.P.) harjits_bal@yahoo.com

The British domination over Indian land started in the 17th century and by the end of that century the British rule extended over large areas with the fall of Mughal empire, defeat of the Marathas and subjugation of local powers. The British inherited the institutional form of agrarian system from the Mughals. The British superimposed a system over the existing pattern in tune with British customs and laws relating land. Broadly three principal types of land revenue system were introduced in British India. The basic characteristic of each system was the attempt to incorporate elements of the preceding agrarian structure.

After the battle of Buxar in 1764, the East India Company got the privilege of collecting the land Revenue. Different land revenue systems were introduced in various part of British India, as the British annexed different parts of India in various periods. Let us have introspection into three broad land revenue systems introduced by the British. These land revenue systems are 1. Zamindari system, 2. Rywotari System 3. Mahalwari System.

Permanent Settlement
1. It was introduced by Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. 2. The system was also found in large parts of Northern India except Avdh, Agra, Jaipur and Jodhpur 3. The Permanent settlement Act was passed in 1793 and initially introduced in Bengal. 4. This gave proprietary right to Zamindars. 5. Zamindars Become the permanent owners of the land 6. Zamindars got the right to collect land revenue. 7. They were required to pay a fixed amount of land revenues. 8. Land revenue fixed at 50% of total produce 9. Land was mortgaged incase of non-repayment of loan.

Merits of Permanent Settlement: The government revenue became certain. The government got the support of a new class of zamindar as they were also benefited from this system and they became supporters of East India Company.
Demerits of Permanent Settlement: Agriculture development stopped and farmers were now changed into laborers.

Ryotwari Settlement (1820)

1. This system was introduced by Thomas Munroe 2. Introduced in Bombay and Madras presidencies and some areas won by company from Tipu Sultan. This system was implemented in Maharashtra, Madras, East Bengal, Assam and Kurga. 3. About 50% of British India was under this system. 4. In this system, peasants were given ownership rights over the land and they directly paid revenue to the government. 5. Since in these areas there were no traditional Zamindars. 6. British made the settlement with the actual cultivators and Ryots 7. These riots had been tilling the land from generations. 8. Land revenue was directly collected from them. 9. Rate of revenue was half of the total produce.

Demerits of Royatwari Settlement

1.Despite of making peasants owner of land, the conditions of the peasants did not improve, as the measurement of land and determination or the revenue was erratic. 2.This system resulted in reduction of prices of land and agriculture became unprofitable business. 3.The method of collection of revenue was exploitative which led to indebtedness of the peasants. 4.This system gave rise to class of Mahajans. 5.The main purpose of this system was to regularize revenue and improving the condition of the peasants.

The Mahalwari Settlement (1830)

1. This system was introduced in western Uttar Pradesh, part of Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. 2. It was devised by Halt Mackenzie. 3. Under this system Mahal (Group of villages) were created community blocks. 4. The village headmen or Talukdars were held responsible for the collection of land revenue. 5. Land revenue was not fixed it was the half of the produce.

Demerits of Mahalwari System

1.These systems had destructive impact in Indian agriculture. 2.The landlords in this system became absentee businessman concerned only with revenue. 3.As a result of these systems, the traditional, political, economic and social structures of the rural community was destroyed. 4.New social classes like Landlords, Businessman and Mahajan emerged. 5.The rural society declined and rivalry in the villages emerged that broke the traditional relations between peasants, artisans and labors. 6.The Indian cottage industries were destroyed due to increasing English imports. The average size of land holdings decreased. 7.The farmer had no way to make out the meetings of rising burden and farmers came into the clutches. 8.The external interference in the villages increased with the increase of material goods. 9.The village panchayats gradually started declining.

Bad Effects of the revenue policies introduced by the British

Emergence of a new class of Zamindars.( they have right to collect Revenue). Land was divided in to small units in order to get maximum Revenues. Indebtedness of peasants increased. Peasants become poor under these system of Land Revenue Policies. Many peasants lost their land in the hands of English. Due to the non payment of revenues with in a fixed time, peasants have to mortgage their land .

Merits or advantages of New Revenue Policies 1. 2. 3. 4. Food grains become a part of import and export. Development in plantation. Boost in cotton cultivation in Black Soil areas of Deccan. The trade of Indian Jute, coffee and tea become a profitable export.

By these Revenue Policies, Indian peasants did not get any profit and advantage. The Britishers and their agents, they gains maximum from trade and collection of revenues. Thank You
harjits_bal@yahoo.com