Introduced in Bengal, Bihar-Odissa, districts of Banaras and Northern districts of Madras by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. Sir John Shore planned this settlement.
It declared Zamindars as the owners of the land. Hence, they could keep 1/11th of the revenue collected to themselves while the British got a fixed share of 10/11th of the revenue collected.
The Zamindars were free to fix the rate. Assured of their ownership, many Zamindars stayed in towns and exploited their tenants.
The system was introduced to ensure the revenue receipt of the British colonial where a power, Zamindar was declared the proprietor of land on condition of fixed revenue payments to the British regime.
The peasants were turned into tenant farmers and deprived of the land title including other rights and privileges enjoyed during the Mughal period.
The Zamindars collected the rents of land through different intermediate collectors.
The peasantry was subject to deprivation of his share in produce from land and relegated to abject poverty. This revenue system accounted for 57% of cultivated area in the country.
The Commission, inquiring the reasons of the Great Bengal Famine in 1943, recommended the abolition of intermediaries on land interest to the British Government.
Ryotwari Settlement
It was introduced in Bombay, Madras and Asom, Munro and Charles Reed recommended it. In this system, the direct settlement was made between the Government and the Ryots.
The revenue was based on the basis of the quality of the soil and the nature of the crop.
The revenue was fixed for a period not exceeding 30 years.
It was based on the Scientific Rent Theory of Ricardo. The position of the cultivator became more secure.
Mahalwari System
It was introduced in the area of Ganga valley, NWFP, parts of Central India and Punjab.
Revenue settlement was to be made by village or estates with landlords.
In this system, a settlement was made with the village which maintained a form of common ownership known as Bhai Chara or with Mahals, which were group of Villages. Revenue was periodically revised.
Taluqdari System
In the district of Oudh, there existed another system known as Taluqdari system.
The government entered into an agreement with the Taluqdar for a period of 30 years.
The Taluqdar collected the stipulated revenues from different villages put under his charge and deposited them with the government, after deducting the cost of collection of the revenues and his own remuneration for the arduous work.
Unlike the Bengal Zamindars, the Oudh Taluqdars had no real rights over the lands under their charge. Moreover, they worked as revenue collectors for the fixed period of and not in perpetuity.
