For UPSC, Land Revenue Systems in British India is always a hot topic for Prelims and Mains. And as per the new syllabus ‘land reforms in India’ is specifically mentioned for GS Mains, and the relevance just got multiplied. Now let’s have a quick look at the different methods of land revenue collection systems which existed in India.
Land Revenue Systems Before British Rule
Tax from the land was a major source of revenue for the kings and emperors from ancient times. But the ownership pattern of land had witnessed changes over centuries. During Kingship, land was divided into Jagirs, Jagirs were alloted to Jagirdars, these Jagirdars split the land they got and allocated to sub-ordinate Zamindars. Zamindars made peasants cultivate the land, in-return collected part of their revenue as tax.
Land Revenue Systems in British India :
Three major systems of land revenue collection existed in India. They were – Zaminidari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari.
Zamindari System
- Zamindari System was introduced by Cornwallis in 1793 through Permanent Settlement Act.
- It was introduced in provinces of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Varanasi.
- Also known as Permanent Settlement 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.
Ryotwari System
- Ryotwari System was introduced by Thomas Munro in 1820.
- Major areas of introduction include Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam and Coorgh provinces of British India.
- In Ryotwari System the ownership rights were handed over to the peasants. British Government collected taxes directly from the peasants.
- The revenue rates of Ryotwari System were 50% where the lands were dry and 60% in irrigated land.
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.
Land Reforms in India After Independence
Zamindari Abolition Act was passed by UP, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, etc. Surplus lands were confiscated from zamindars. Later Land Ceilings Act was passed by different states, fixing an upper limit for private land holdings of a family. Land reforms in India is discussed in detail in the highlighted link.
For extra reading on Land Revenue Systems :
Warren Hastings in 1833? It was William Bentick..
Yeah it is Warren Hasting you Are correct
@kanishka : Thanks for pointing out the typo. Corrected.
Grateful for your important information.
Thankyou , it really helped me a lot
Thank you, really good very useful
NCERT class 12, History part 3 book says that as per the definition in Permanent settlement, Zamindar was not a land owner in the village but a revenue collector (Pg. 259). However, here it is mentioned Zamindars were recognized as owner of the lands. Please clarify Sir.
Before the british time zamidar was lived with peasants in villages, after the permanent sattlement they replaced by corrupted zamidars , they were not own the land and not lived in village
EEC is the owner of the land. Here in india zamindar is the intermediate under EEC but Z have full power upon peasant in land through Z’ became owner of land to Peasant but not to EEC
In England Zamindar is the owner of the land in relation to state and Tennant
True ! Zamindars were never the Owners of the land rather merely the rent collectors of the British Co.
ryotwari system was introduced by thomas munro..?it was Alexander Reid and was continued by thomas munro… mentioned in 10th sst text book cbse syllabus plz varify..
The themes in India history by Raghunath Rai says “the zamindars who collected the land revenue were made the owners of the land” page 204
Yes
Very informative and easy 2 temember
By the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793, the Zamindars power of keeping the armed forces were taken back and they remained just the tax collectors of the land.
Provided very useful and detailed information about the given topic which helped in my studies and activities ?
Ya that’s true ?
Mahalwari system introduced by holt mackenzie and continued by bentick .
Please mention the consequences of all three
The Ryotwari experiment started by Alexander reed .
thanks to give such type of grate ful information
Good. Precise notes but according to NCERT book of history of class VIII mahalwari was introduced in 1822 (Marques of Hasting) instead of 1933 Please clarify.
Most helpful, improve it’s upcoming future
What type of land revenue is collected by district collector?
mahalwari system was introduced in 1822 not in 1833
But why they introduced different types of land revenue system in different part??
thanks very much
It was Munro and Charles Reed, who recommended it.
Thanks History geneous!!! great article!!!!!
Lol
A good website for history project
1945 me jamin ka patta adhik se adhik kitne rupees tak likhata tha
Can u also state when it was abolished in India?
Spell me correct.