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 :
kanishka says
August 10, 2014 at 1:12 amWarren Hastings in 1833? It was William Bentick..
Shahab kalim says
September 11, 2018 at 7:48 pmYeah it is Warren Hasting you Are correct
ClearIAS.com says
August 10, 2014 at 1:48 pm@kanishka : Thanks for pointing out the typo. Corrected.
Dipen says
November 27, 2014 at 2:24 pmGrateful for your important information.
shubham says
March 30, 2015 at 7:34 pmThankyou , it really helped me a lot
SATHIYABAMA says
May 22, 2015 at 8:19 amThank you, really good very useful
Sumit says
July 28, 2015 at 6:14 pmNCERT 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.
tarlochan says
December 11, 2016 at 9:41 pmBefore 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 pmEEC 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
PushpJeet S Koushik says
August 17, 2015 at 4:56 pmTrue ! Zamindars were never the Owners of the land rather merely the rent collectors of the British Co.
shruti says
September 17, 2015 at 10:34 amryotwari 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..
Mansi Jain says
March 24, 2019 at 8:33 pmRyotwari system introduced by sir Thomas munro in 1820 based on system administered by Captain Alexander Reid in the baramahal district.
Athira Nair says
October 25, 2015 at 10:30 amThe themes in India history by Raghunath Rai says “the zamindars who collected the land revenue were made the owners of the land” page 204
Malthullu says
February 17, 2016 at 11:14 pmYes
Sangita says
April 27, 2016 at 12:38 pmVery informative and easy 2 temember
Malik Ishfaq says
May 10, 2016 at 11:51 pmBy 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.
Vinti Vats says
July 16, 2016 at 8:08 pmProvided very useful and detailed information about the given topic which helped in my studies and activities ?
Riya says
July 16, 2016 at 8:09 pmYa that’s true ?
Shraddha vyas says
October 17, 2016 at 6:43 pmMahalwari system introduced by holt mackenzie and continued by bentick .
Please mention the consequences of all three
Raj Kumar sahu says
February 18, 2017 at 5:09 pmThe Ryotwari experiment started by Alexander reed .
lokesh says
March 9, 2017 at 8:25 pmthanks to give such type of grate ful information
Shivam Gupta says
May 11, 2017 at 7:18 pmGood. 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.
NITESH Rai says
January 16, 2019 at 4:23 pmThe 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.
Hrishikesh Neog says
July 30, 2017 at 10:15 pmMost helpful, improve it’s upcoming future
Kullu says
August 12, 2017 at 9:37 pmWhat type of land revenue is collected by district collector?
Prem M says
October 7, 2017 at 12:26 ammahalwari system was introduced in 1822 not in 1833
gaurav says
November 10, 2017 at 11:19 amBut why they introduced different types of land revenue system in different part??
Rajnish says
March 7, 2018 at 8:50 pmthanks very much
Sweety says
May 14, 2018 at 12:32 pmIt was Munro and Charles Reed, who recommended it.
Emilly stilletoria says
June 24, 2018 at 1:40 pmThanks History geneous!!! great article!!!!!
Kritwashak says
July 22, 2018 at 8:10 pmLol
Lakshya says
August 18, 2018 at 12:51 pmA good website for history project
dayanand Prasad says
September 5, 2018 at 12:35 pm1945 me jamin ka patta adhik se adhik kitne rupees tak likhata tha
Rathi says
November 3, 2018 at 8:03 pmCan u also state when it was abolished in India?
William Bentinck says
December 2, 2018 at 12:21 pmSpell me correct.
Venky says
December 29, 2018 at 3:09 pmMahalwari system was introduced by Holt Mackenzie
Dipanjan das says
January 5, 2019 at 8:35 pmMahalwari system was introduced by elfinston in the year 1822
Owe says
January 9, 2019 at 10:58 amBoth Reed and Munro recommended
KAMAL CHETRY says
January 9, 2019 at 10:27 pmdo include Sunset policy
Boss, bich m na bol 😊 says
April 26, 2019 at 8:46 amEasily understand to read this.. It’s a crucial site…… Thnku vm Clearias
RAHUL DEB NATH says
May 8, 2019 at 3:17 pmThanks its very helpful
ninja says
May 18, 2019 at 1:24 pmuseful
Nasar Usmani says
July 2, 2019 at 2:44 pmYou 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?
Ashish Mishra says
August 1, 2019 at 11:10 amWhich one system is related with zabti system