Option 1 is correct. In southern and western India, the ryotwari settlement was indeed adopted. Ryotwari system was introduced by the British in parts of India during the colonial period.

Option 2 is correct. Ryotwari settlement was based on the principle of direct contract between the ryot (peasant) and the state. Under this system, the ryots were required to directly pay their land revenue to the state. This was in contrast to the zamindari system where revenue was collected by intermediaries.

Option 3 is correct. Ryotwari settlement was typically implemented through a tax contract which was valid for a specific period, often around 30 years. The contract would define the rights and obligations of the ryot and the state in terms of land revenue payments.

Option 4 is incorrect. The ryotwari system in principle aimed to weaken the former elite, the zamindars, and empower the peasantry. It aimed to eliminate the intermediaries, such as the zamindars, and establish a direct relationship between the ryot and the state. The ryots would have direct ownership rights and control over their land, reducing the exploitation by intermediaries.

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