Land Revenue Settlement
Permanent Settlement
British East India Company introduced three types of Land Revenue Settlement in India -
- Permanent Settlement (Zamindari/Jamindari Bandobast)
- Ryotwari Settlement
- Mahalwari Settlement
Permanent Settlement
In order to generate sufficient revenue for longer period of time, Cornwallis started it in 1793 in the province of Bihar, Bengal and Odisha. Later it was also extended to Northern districts of Madras and in Varanasi.
It covered near about 19% area of the British India.
In areas concerned with the permanent settlement, the land ownership right was vested with the Zamindars. It was hereditary and transferrable but the ultimate ownership of the land was with the company and it can sell or auction the land in case of non-payment or untimely payment of revenue.
It was permanently fixed that 10/11th (Ten-eleventh) of the total revenue collected will be given to the British authority and the remaining 1/11th can be kept by the Zamindar.
The rate of tax on peasants was left on the discretion of the zamindars and it was fixed arbitrarily.
Sunset Clause - Under this clause, the Zamindars had to pay the revenue before the sunset of the pre-fixed date. In case of non-payment, it was up to the British authority that they can snatch the land of the Zamindar and sell it or auction it to somebody else.
There is no provision of relief to the peasants during any natural disaster or calamity.
Reasons for implementing Permanent Settlement
- To generate sufficient revenue for a longer period of time. This revenue was needed for buying Indian products, administrative expenses, expansion of British territory and expense related to war.
Outcome/Impact of the Permanent Settlement
1. On British Authority
- Though up to a great extent, it fulfilled the objectives of the British, however in the permanent settlement area the British could not enhance the amount of land revenue because it was inherent in the settlement that it was permanent in terms of revenue and company could not increase a single pie even if there is a huge rise in production.
2. On Zamindars
- Though some of the Zamindars lost land ownership right due to sunset clause but majority of them reaped huge benefit from it.
- It not only increased their income but also their prestige in the society.
- It also led to the rise of Absentee Zamindars (Sub-feudalisation) and moneylenders in large number.
Zamindars 🠊 who reaped huge benefits became rich 🠊 moved to metropolitan cities like Calcutta 🠊 so, they appoint intermediaries to collect revenue in village on behalf of him 🠊 Thus, this led to the rise of Absentee Zamindars (Sub-feudalisation)
3. On Peasants
- Peasants were left at the mercy of Zamindars as they were not the owners of the land.
- Not only their income was impacted but they were reduced to the status of tenants or sharecroppers.
- Their income declined in a drastic manner which led to the rise of moneylenders in huge numbers and peasants were trapped in the vicious cycle of debt (debt trap).
- There were widespread discontent among the peasants which later fueled many peasant revolts.
- Moreover, the complex judicial system further increased the problems of the peasants.
4. On the Land
- There was rapid deterioration in the fertility of agricultural land as there was no investment from the side of the British and Zamindar.
- Moreover, the peasants were not in the condition to spend anything on the fertility of the land as peasants were not the owner of land and also after collecting revenue they were left with meagre income.
Previous Article - Pillars of British Administration
Next Article - Ryotwari Settlement & Mahalwari Settlement
Notes on other subjects
Optional Notes
Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍
){kind=link}
0 Comments