Question

How were the Ryotwari and Mahalwari settlements different from the Permanent Settlements

Answer 1

Reason for the enactment of Permanent settlement was the actual collection of revenue varied from year to year and this leads to instability in the Company's revenue at a time when the company was hard pressed for money.Moreover, neither the ryot(peasant) nor the zamindar would do anything to improve the cultivation when they did not know who would be the next year's revenue collector.

Permanent System : permanent here means fixing the land revenue at a permanent amount.

It was introduced in Bengal and Bihar by Lord Cornwallis in 1793.The two important features are

1. The zamindars and revenue collectors were converted into large number of landlords.

2. Zamindars were to give 10/11th of the rental they derived from the peasantry to the state,keeping only 1/11th with themselves.

for example :- Let the gross produce of the Bengal to be taken 100,the government claimed 45, zamindars and other intermediaries below them 15 and only 40 remained with actual cultivator.

Ryotwari System

This system was introduced inMadras and Bombay presidency by Thomas Munro in 1820.Under this system the cultivators were to be recognised as the owner of the land,unlike the zamindari system where zamindar was made the landlord.The settlement under ryotwari system was not made permanent.Revenue rates were 50% where land was dry and 60% in irrigated areas.

Mahalwari system

It was introduced in 1822 by HoltMackenzie and R.M Bird in areas of Central province,North-west frontier,Agra,Punjab, Gangetic valley etc. of British India.

Land was divided into Mahals. Each mahal comprises one or more villages.Owners rights were with Peasants and village committee was held responsible for collection of taxes.

Answer 2

Reason for the enactment of Permanent settlement was the actual collection of revenue varied from year to year and this leads to instability in the Company's revenue at a time when the company was hard pressed for money.Moreover, neither the ryot(peasant) nor the zamindar would do anything to improve the cultivation when they did not know who would be the next year's revenue collector.Permanent System : permanent here means fixing the land revenue at a permanent amount.It was introduced in Bengal and Bihar by Lord Cornwallis in 1793.The two important features are1. The zamindars and revenue collectors were converted into large number of landlords.2. Zamindars were to give 10/11th of the rental they derived from the peasantry to the state,keeping only 1/11th with themselves.for example :- Let the gross produce of the Bengal to be taken 100,the government claimed 45, zamindars and other intermediaries below them 15 and only 40 remained with actual cultivator.Ryotwari SystemThis system was introduced inMadras and Bombay presidency by Thomas Munro in 1820.Under this system the cultivators were to be recognised as the owner of the land,unlike the zamindari system where zamindar was made the landlord.The settlement under ryotwari system was not made permanent.Revenue rates were 50% where land was dry and 60% in irrigated areas.Mahalwari systemIt was introduced in 1822 by HoltMackenzie and R.M Bird in areas of Central province,North-west frontier,Agra,Punjab, Gangetic valley etc. of British India.Land was divided into Mahals. Each mahal comprises one or more villages.Owners rights were with Peasants and village committee was held responsible for collection of taxes.