Q. Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British rule?

  1. Lord Cornwallis
  2. Alexander Read
  3. Thomas Munro

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • 1 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only

Ryotwari System:
  • The ryotwari system was a land revenue system in British India introduced by Thomas Munro, which allowed the government to deal directly with the cultivator.
  • A system that came to be known as the Ryotwari System, was devised by Captain Alexander Read and Sir Thomas Munro at the end of the 18th century and introduced by the latter when he was governor of Madras Presidency (1819–26).
  • Under the Ryotwari system, the land revenue was paid by the farmers directly to the state.
  • In this system, the Individual cultivator called Ryot had full rights regarding sale, transfer, and leasing of the land.
    • The ryots could not be evicted from their land as long as they paid the rent.
  • It was prevalent in most of southern India, first introduced in Tamil Nadu. It was later extended to Maharashtra, Berar, East Punjab, Coorg and Assam.
  • The advantages of this system were the elimination of middlemen, who often oppressed villagers.
Zamindari System
  • The zamindari system was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 through Permanent Settlement that fixed the land rights of the members in perpetuity without any provision for fixed rent or occupancy right for actual cultivators.
  • Under the Zamindari system, the land revenue was collected from the farmers by the intermediaries known as Zamindars.
  • The share of the government in the total land revenue collected by the zamindars was kept at 10/11th, and the remainder going to zamindars.
  • The system was most prevalent in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, UP, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The Permanent Settlement Agreement

  • According to the Permanent Land revenue settlement the Zamindars were recognised as the permanent owners of the land.
  • They were given instruction to pay 89% of the annual revenue to the state and were permitted to enjoy 11% of the revenue as their share.
  • The Zamindars were left independent in the internal affairs of their respective districts.