Explain the 'Ryotwari' and 'Mahalwari' systems of collecting land revenue prevalent under the British rule.

Question

Accepted Answer

The British introduced different land revenue systems in different parts of the country.

**Ryotwari system:** It was the way of collecting tax revenue directly from the cultivators of farmland, as in most areas of the Madras and Bombay Presidencies and in Assam. The revenue settlement was made directly with the cultivator, and revenue rates were calculated as the money value of a share of the estimated average annual output.

**Mahalwari system:** This system consisted of landlords or zamindars representing an entire village or even a group of villages. Along with the tillers, they were jointly as well as individually responsible for the payment of revenues. The land under this system included the land of the villages as well as adjoining forestland and pastures. This system was adopted in the North-West Provinces and Punjab.