Question map
Which one of the following statements about land tenure system is NOT correct ?
Explanation
The British introduced three primary land tenure systems: Zamindari, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari [2]. Under the Zamindari system, land was held by one or a few joint owners responsible for revenue payment [1]. In the Ryotwari system, individual holders (ryots) were directly responsible for revenue, though the state often acted as a 'giant zamindar' [4]. Statement 3 is incorrect because under the Mahalwari system, ownership rights typically vested with the peasants or the village community, not the Government [3]. The system treated the 'Mahal' (village or estate) as a collective unit where landlords or heads of families were jointly responsible for revenue [4]. While the British claimed revenue as 'rent' in some contexts, the legal ownership in Mahalwari areas was recognized as belonging to the village community or individual proprietors within the mahal, rather than the land being state property [5].
Sources
- [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 10: Land Reforms in India > LAND REVENUE SYSTEMS IN BRITISH INDIA Three major systems were introduced: Land Revenue System, Zamindari System, Ryotwari System, Mahalwari System (1793), (1820), (1833) > p. 337
- [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 1. Abolition of Intermediaries > p. 25
- [4] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 5: The Structure of the Government and the Economic Policies of the British Empire in India, 1757—1857 > Land Revenue Policy > p. 105
- [3] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 10: Land Reforms in India > III. Mahalwari System > p. 338
- [5] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 5: Land Reforms > Mahalwari System: > p. 191