Question

write short note on land revenue settlement in India ​

Answer 1

Answer:

In the early history of all countries, land was either the only or the main source of revenue. In modern times, although many other sources of income have been developed, yet land continues to be taxed in one or the other form. This is true of India as well but with the difference that till recently, the state in India derived a much larger percentage of its income from land than from any other source.Under the ancient Hindu kings, the share which the state could take from the landowner was limited to 1/6 of the produce paid usually in kind but, in some cases, in cash. The early Muslim rulers made no change in the system so that the old village communities continued to function through the ages right up to the advent of the British.To Sher Shah, however, belongs the credit of introducing the system of measurement as the basis of assessment. He had the lands classified, standard yields assessed, and revenue fixed at 1/3 of the average on all classes of land.Sher Shah’s reforms became the basis of Akbar’s policy with the difference that he proceeded to convert the grain rates into cash rates based on the average prices of 19 years prevailing before the settlement. With the decline of the Moghul power, there came into existence different rulers in different parts of India with more or lessexorbitant claims.In the general confusion, which prevailed in the 18 century, no ruler was safe in his position, and every one was in need of resources to fight his wars. Understandably, there were frequent cases of excessive demands.