SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 39

Solution: The correct answer is Revenue demand was periodically revised upward, burdening the whole village collectively.
Explanation:
☛ The Mahalwari system was devised by Holt Mackenzie in 1822 and later reformed under Lord William Bentinck (1833).
☛ Under this system, the assessment unit was the village or estate (known as the Mahal), and the revenue was paid collectively by the village community through the village headman (Lambardar).
☛ Unlike the Permanent Settlement, the revenue demand under the Mahalwari system was not fixed permanently; it was periodically revised, almost always upward.
☛ Due to excessive state demand and the principle of joint responsibility, if any farmer defaulted, the entire village had to bear the burden, causing severe peasant impoverishment and land alienation.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ The Mahalwari system was implemented across the North-Western Provinces, parts of Central India, and Punjab, covering roughly 30% of British India.
☛ Permanent Settlement: Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, where land revenue was fixed permanently with Zamindars.
☛ Ryotwari System: Introduced by Thomas Munro and Captain Alexander Read in 1820 in Madras and Bombay, establishing direct settlement with individual cultivators (Ryots).
☛ Detailed land surveys and rent calculations were introduced in the Mahalwari system, but they led to widespread overassessment and corruption.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who devised the Mahalwari system in 1822? → Holt Mackenzie
☛ Who was responsible for collecting and paying revenue in the Mahalwari system? → Village headman (Lambardar)
☛ What does the term 'Mahal' signify in the British revenue system? → A village or an estate
☛ Under which Governor-General was the Mahalwari system modified in 1833? → Lord William Bentinck
☛ Which land revenue system covered the largest area (approx. 51%) of British India? → Ryotwari System