Which one of the following statements with regard to ryotwari settlement is not correct ?
- A.In southern and western India, the ryotwari settlement was adopted.
- B.Ryotwari was in principle a direct contract between the ryot and the state.
- C.It means a tax contract valid for usually 30 years.
- D.In principle, it strengthened the former elite, the zamindars and weakened the peasantry.
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D. The ryotwari system was meant to do the opposite: it bypassed the zamindars and dealt with the peasant directly.
The ryotwari settlement was worked out by Alexander Read and Thomas Munro and introduced in the Madras Presidency in 1820, and later extended to the Bombay Presidency. Each ryot, or cultivator, was recognised as the owner of his plot and paid revenue straight to the government, with no zamindar in between. The rate was fixed for a period, usually around thirty years, after which it was revised. In practice the demand was often very high and the state itself became a harsh landlord, but in principle the scheme removed the intermediaries.
A is correct: it was adopted in Madras and Bombay, that is, southern and western India. B is correct: it was a direct contract between ryot and state. C is correct: the settlement was made for a fixed term, commonly thirty years.
Exam tip: Permanent Settlement = zamindar (Bengal, 1793); Ryotwari = peasant (Madras, Munro); Mahalwari = village (north-west).
Practice Questions
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