The new revenue systems, introduced by the EEIC, were expected to be better than the previous
system. Explain the main features of the Mahalwari System and how it was different from the
previous system.
Answers
For UPSC, Land Revenue Systems in British India is always a hot topic for Prelims and Mains. And as per the new syllabus 'land reforms in India' is specifically mentioned for GS Mains, and the relevance just got multiplied. Now let's have a quick look at the different methods of land revenue collection systems which existed in India.
Land Revenue Systems Before British Rule
Tax from the land was a major source of revenue for the kings and emperors from ancient times. But the ownership pattern of land had witnessed changes over centuries. During Kingship, land was divided into Jagirs, Jagirs were alloted to
Jagirdars, these Jagirdars split the land they got and allocated to sub-ordinate Zamindars. Zamindars made peasants cultivate the land, in-return collected part of their revenue as tax.
Land Revenue Systems in British India : Three major systems of land revenue collection existed in India. They were - Zaminidari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari.
Answer:
Land Revenue System under British. British got Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765. The major aim of British East India Company was to increase their land revenue collection. So its policies were aimed at getting maximum income from land without caring about its consequences on cultivators and peasants.