SSC Selection Post 2025 PYQ — Question 12

Correct Answer

Thomas Munro

Explanation

The Ryotwari System was a major land revenue system introduced in British India to collect taxes directly from the peasants. While it was initially tried on a small scale by Captain Alexander Read in the Baramahal region (Tamil Nadu) in 1792, it was formally developed and extended across the Madras Presidency by Sir Thomas Munro in 1820 when he was serving as its Governor. Under this system, the government recognized the peasant (Ryot) as the absolute owner of the land. There were no middlemen or landlords (Zamindars) involved; the peasants paid land revenue directly to the British administration. The tax rates were extremely high and were revised periodically every 20 to 30 years based on the fertility of the soil and potential crop yield, rather than being fixed permanently.

Key Points

Regarding its geographical coverage, the Ryotwari system was predominantly implemented in Southern and Western India, covering major parts of the Madras and Bombay Presidencies, as well as portions of Assam and Coorg.

Unlike the Ryotwari system, the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari System) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha in 1793, where landlords (Zamindars) acted as middlemen to collect taxes.

In terms of overall impact, although it eliminated the exploitative class of Zamindars, the Ryotwari system still heavily burdened the peasants because the government fixed revenue demands at very high levels (often 50% to 60% of the produce), frequently forcing peasants into the trap of local moneylenders when crops failed.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: In which major administrative presidencies of British India was the Ryotwari system predominantly established?

Answer: It was established primarily in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies.

Question: Who initially conceptualized and experimented with the Ryotwari mechanism in the Baramahal district before its presidency-wide expansion?

Answer: Captain Alexander Read initially formulated and tried the system in 1792.