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Land revenue polices till 1793.
Tell all the Land revenue polices till 1793.
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Land revenue policies in India up until 1793:
1. Zamindari System:
Introduced by the British East India Company in Bengal in 1793 through the Permanent Settlement Act.
The land was divided into large estates called zamindaris, which were assigned to powerful local landlords (zamindars).
Zamindars were responsible for collecting revenue from the cultivators and paying a fixed annual sum to the Company.
This system provided the British with a stable and reliable revenue source, but was criticized for exploiting the peasants.
2. Mahalwari System:
Introduced in the early 19th century, primarily in the North-Western Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh).
Under this system, the village was recognized as the basic revenue unit, and the revenue was assessed and collected from the village community as a whole.
The village headmen, known as lambardar or patwari, were responsible for revenue collection and coordination within the village.
3. Ryotwari System:
Introduced in parts of southern India, particularly in the Bombay and Madras Presidencies, in the early 19th century.
Under this system, the British directly settled with the individual cultivators (ryots) for the payment of land revenue.
The revenue was assessed based on the quality and productivity of the land, and the rates were periodically revised.
4. Jagirdari System:
In this system, the land was assigned to privileged individuals or groups, known as jagirdars, who were responsible for collecting revenue and maintaining law and order in their respective areas.
This system was prevalent in parts of central and northern India, particularly in the Mughal-controlled regions.
These land revenue policies played a significant role in the British administrative and economic control over India during the colonial period, shaping the social and agrarian structures of the subcontinent.
