Question 1

Which British policy introduced the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in India?

Accepted Answer

Cornwallis Code. The Permanent Settlement of 1793 was introduced by Lord Cornwallis through the Cornwallis Code in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. It fixed land revenue permanently and created a class of zamindars as proprietors of land. Zamindars had to pay a fixed sum to the British government or lose their land. This system entrenched landlordism and led to exploitation of peasants for over 150 years.

Question 2

Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, who was recognized as the owner of land?

Accepted Answer

Zamindars. Under the Permanent Settlement, zamindars were recognized as the owners of land in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. They were given hereditary rights over land in exchange for paying a fixed annual revenue to the colonial government. Peasants who actually cultivated the land were reduced to the status of tenants with no ownership rights. This created a parasitic landlord class that extracted maximum rent from cultivators.

Question 3

The Ryotwari system of land revenue was introduced primarily in which region?

Accepted Answer

Madras and Bombay Presidencies. The Ryotwari system was introduced in Madras Presidency by Thomas Munro and in Bombay Presidency by Mountstuart Elphinstone. Under this system, the government settled directly with individual cultivators (ryots) without any intermediary landlord. Revenue was assessed on each plot and could be revised periodically, unlike the Permanent Settlement. Ryots who paid revenue were recognized as owners of their land.

Question 4

The Mahalwari system of land settlement was mainly introduced in which region?

Accepted Answer

North-Western Provinces and Punjab. The Mahalwari system was introduced in the North-Western Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh), Punjab, and parts of Central India. Under this system, the revenue settlement was made with the village community (mahal) collectively. The village headman or community was jointly responsible for paying revenue to the government. Individual holdings were recognized within the village but collective responsibility was maintained.

Question 5

Which constitutional article empowers the state to enact laws for redistribution of material resources of the community?

Accepted Answer

Article 39(b). Article 39(b) of the Directive Principles of State Policy directs the state to ensure that ownership and control of material resources of the community are distributed to best serve the common good. This article provided the constitutional basis for land reform legislation including zamindari abolition and land ceiling laws. Article 39(c) further prohibits concentration of wealth to the common detriment. Together, these articles enabled comprehensive agrarian reforms after independence.

Land Reforms History — Set 1