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ClearIAS » Indian History Notes » Land Revenue Systems in British India: Zamindari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari

Land Revenue Systems in British India: Zamindari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari

Last updated on September 30, 2017 by Alex Andrews George

Land Revenue Systems in British IndiaFor 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

  • 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 :

  • Zamindari System – Hubpages.
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About Alex Andrews George

Alex Andrews George is a mentor, author, and entrepreneur. Alex is the founder of ClearIAS and one of the expert Civil Service Exam Trainers in India.

He is the author of many best-seller books like 'Important Judgments that transformed India' and 'Important Acts that transformed India'.

A trusted mentor and pioneer in online training, Alex's guidance, strategies, study-materials, and mock-exams have helped thousands of aspirants to become IAS, IPS, and IFS officers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kanishka says

    August 10, 2014 at 1:12 am

    Warren Hastings in 1833? It was William Bentick..

    Reply
    • Shahab kalim says

      September 11, 2018 at 7:48 pm

      Yeah it is Warren Hasting you Are correct

    • Leisha says

      August 20, 2020 at 10:58 am

      idiot you are

  2. ClearIAS.com says

    August 10, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    @kanishka : Thanks for pointing out the typo. Corrected.

    Reply
  3. Dipen says

    November 27, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    Grateful for your important information.

    Reply
  4. shubham says

    March 30, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    Thankyou , it really helped me a lot

    Reply
  5. SATHIYABAMA says

    May 22, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Thank you, really good very useful

    Reply
  6. Sumit says

    July 28, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • tarlochan says

      December 11, 2016 at 9:41 pm

      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

    • Abdul bari says

      October 18, 2018 at 4:56 pm

      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

  7. PushpJeet S Koushik says

    August 17, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    True ! Zamindars were never the Owners of the land rather merely the rent collectors of the British Co.

    Reply
  8. shruti says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:34 am

    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..

    Reply
    • Mansi Jain says

      March 24, 2019 at 8:33 pm

      Ryotwari system introduced by sir Thomas munro in 1820 based on system administered by Captain Alexander Reid in the baramahal district.

    • Riya says

      October 6, 2020 at 12:14 pm

      But it was developed by munro

  9. Athira Nair says

    October 25, 2015 at 10:30 am

    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

    Reply
  10. Malthullu says

    February 17, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    Yes

    Reply
  11. Sangita says

    April 27, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Very informative and easy 2 temember

    Reply
  12. Malik Ishfaq says

    May 10, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    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.

    Reply
  13. Shraddha vyas says

    October 17, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    Mahalwari system introduced by holt mackenzie and continued by bentick .

    Please mention the consequences of all three

    Reply
  14. Raj Kumar sahu says

    February 18, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    The Ryotwari experiment started by Alexander reed .

    Reply
  15. lokesh says

    March 9, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    thanks to give such type of grate ful information

    Reply
  16. Shivam Gupta says

    May 11, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • NITESH Rai says

      January 16, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      The government of William Bentinck made a thorough revision of the act of 1823, and thus the Mahalwari System was introduced.
      The mahalwari system of land revenue was introduced by Holt Mackenzie and Robert Merttins Bird.
      The Mahalwari system of land revenue worked under the scheme of 1833 was completed under the administration of James Thompson.

  17. Hrishikesh Neog says

    July 30, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Most helpful, improve it’s upcoming future

    Reply
  18. Kullu says

    August 12, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    What type of land revenue is collected by district collector?

    Reply
  19. Prem M says

    October 7, 2017 at 12:26 am

    mahalwari system was introduced in 1822 not in 1833

    Reply
  20. gaurav says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:19 am

    But why they introduced different types of land revenue system in different part??

    Reply
  21. Rajnish says

    March 7, 2018 at 8:50 pm

    thanks very much

    Reply
  22. Sweety says

    May 14, 2018 at 12:32 pm

    It was Munro and Charles Reed, who recommended it.

    Reply
  23. Emilly stilletoria says

    June 24, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Thanks History geneous!!! great article!!!!!

    Reply
  24. Kritwashak says

    July 22, 2018 at 8:10 pm

    Lol

    Reply
  25. Lakshya says

    August 18, 2018 at 12:51 pm

    A good website for history project

    Reply
  26. dayanand Prasad says

    September 5, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    1945 me jamin ka patta adhik se adhik kitne rupees tak likhata tha

    Reply
  27. Rathi says

    November 3, 2018 at 8:03 pm

    Can u also state when it was abolished in India?

    Reply
  28. Venky says

    December 29, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    Mahalwari system was introduced by Holt Mackenzie

    Reply
  29. Dipanjan das says

    January 5, 2019 at 8:35 pm

    Mahalwari system was introduced by elfinston in the year 1822

    Reply
  30. Owe says

    January 9, 2019 at 10:58 am

    Both Reed and Munro recommended

    Reply
  31. KAMAL CHETRY says

    January 9, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    do include Sunset policy

    Reply
  32. Boss, bich m na bol 😊 says

    April 26, 2019 at 8:46 am

    Easily understand to read this.. It’s a crucial site…… Thnku vm Clearias

    Reply
  33. RAHUL DEB NATH says

    May 8, 2019 at 3:17 pm

    Thanks its very helpful

    Reply
  34. ninja says

    May 18, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    useful

    Reply
  35. Nasar Usmani says

    July 2, 2019 at 2:44 pm

    You have given an excellent account of East India Company land reforms, thank you indeed
    Did the Mughals had any sort of reforms at all?
    What reforms were introduced after 1857 when India was taken over by the Crown?
    And why these reforms were not suited by the two republics after partition?

    Reply
  36. Ashish Mishra says

    August 1, 2019 at 11:10 am

    Which one system is related with zabti system

    Reply
  37. Aayush Mãúryã says

    September 10, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    It was Holt makazie who introduced mahalwari system

    Reply
  38. SACHIN says

    November 27, 2019 at 3:13 pm

    Please give detail explanation sir

    Reply
  39. Rohan Jose says

    March 2, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Coorgh provinces of British India. What u mean the word coorgh ?

    Reply
  40. Laxmi says

    March 2, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    Mahalwari system of land revenue in 1833.this same information provided by India’s largest online platform Byju’s also.

    Reply
  41. Flying owl says

    March 27, 2020 at 1:13 am

    Not even 1 percent is left to peasants kya in Zamindari system??

    Reply
  42. Pranay NA Kamble says

    May 17, 2020 at 4:40 am

    Can we trust your information because there are some facts where you make typing error?

    Reply
  43. Souvik Ghosh says

    June 4, 2020 at 9:23 am

    Very good

    Reply
  44. TURBO says

    June 17, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    Splendid work, indeed

    Reply
  45. AGRAJ says

    June 30, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    Tq sir for your valuable and important history explained to us

    Reply
  46. Tanu says

    July 22, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    Lol

    Reply
  47. Sameer sihote says

    September 8, 2020 at 1:53 am

    Saraswati: Indian Economic Development by Dr. Deepashree , book of class XI CBSE, on page no. 1.9 says “The actual collections by Zamindars was much higher than what they had to pay to the Government”. And you said “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.”

    Please clarify

    Reply
  48. DRD says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:43 am

    The ceilings act placed a limit on private ownership for an “individual” not “family”.

    Reply
  49. Gian says

    January 14, 2021 at 12:37 am

    So much confusion in the comment section.

    Reply

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