UPSC Prelims 2024 Question:

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis

consider the following statements: 

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvest or natural calamities 
2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• Permanent Settlement System: 

• It was designed by John Shore & implemented by Lord Cornwallis in 1793

• • • The local Rajas, Taluqdars, Chaudharis etc were made Zamindars: In charge of collecting revenue from villages on behalf of the State
    • Revenue was fixed at 45% of the produce of which 10/11th share was fixed for the Company & 1/11th share went to Zamindars
    • This amount to be paid was fixed permanently 
    • The Right to collect revenue was Hereditary but transferable in case of Non- payment under Sunset clause
    • Under the Sunset Law 1793, If a Zamindar failed to deposit the fixed amount of revenue in the British revenue exchequer on time, his Zamindari rights would be confiscated, and the revenue would be collected by auctioning his property. Therefore, several Zamindars lost their rights, privileges and properties, and some of them like Babu Kunwar Singh took part in the 1857 revolt.
      
      

• Ryotwari Settlement: 

• • Alexander Read, a company official, tried to collect revenue directly from the peasants in the regions captured from Mysore state under Treaty of Seringapatam 1792 This practice already existed under Risala system of Haider Ali & Tipu Sultan where they collected revenue directly from peasants through State officials
  • It was further developed by Thomas Munro in 1820 when he became the Governor of Madras region
  •  The idea was that in Southern regions, there was no large Zamindars with large estates thus settlement made directly with peasants or ryots
  •  Thus, fields of Peasants were surveyed & revenue was fixed accordingly (for a period of 20 or 30 years). 
  • Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were not exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvest or natural calamities rather their rents were lowered. The Madras Torture commission report 1855 CE records incidences of torture on peasants for non-payment of revenue.  In fact, in none of the revenue assessments introduced by the British such relief was provided to the peasants.  So, statement 1 is not correct.
    
    

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: History| British Administrative Reforms