Land Revenue Systems

Land Revenue Systems

Permanent Settlement: 

Introduced in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and districts of Banaras & Northern districts  of Madras by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. 

John Shore planned the Permanent Settlement.

It declared Zamindars as the owners of the land. Hence they could keep l/l1th of the revenue collected to themselves while the British got a Fixed share of 10/11th of the revenue collected. The Zamindars were free to fix  the rents.

Assured of their ownership, many zamindars stayed in towns (absentee land lordism) and exploited their  tenants. 

Ryotwari System:

Introduced in Bombay, Madras and Assam. Munro (Viceroy) and Charles Reed recommended it.

In this, a direct settlement was made between the government and the ryot (cultivator).

The revenue was fixed for a period not exceeding 30 years,   on the basis of the quality of the soil and the nature of  the crop. It was based on the scientific rent theory of Ricardo.

The position of the cultivator became more secure but the rigid system of revenue collection often forced him into the clutches of the moneylender.

Mahalwari System:

Modified version of Zamindari settlement  introduced in the Ganga valley, NWFP. parts of   Central  India & Punjab.

Revenue settlement was to be made by village or  estates with landlords. In western Uttar Pradesh, a   settlement was made with  the village communities,  which maintained  a  form   of  common   ownership  known  as Bhaichara, or with Mahals, which were groups of villages.

Revenue was periodically revised.