In the pre-colonial period the Indian economy was predominantly agrarian; even industries like textiles, sugar and oil depended on agriculture. The British did not adopt a pro-Indian land revenue policy. They introduced three major land revenue and tenurial systems – the Permanent Settlement, the Mahalwari system and the Ryotwari system. The economic exploitation of the peasants led to a series of peasant revolts.
1. The Three Land Revenue Systems at a Glance
| System | Associated with | Year | Areas | Revenue paid by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Settlement (Zamindari) | Lord Cornwallis | 1793 | Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Varanasi division of U.P., Northern Karnataka | Zamindars |
| Ryotwari | Thomas Munro and Captain Read | 1820 | Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam, Coorg | Ryots (peasants) directly |
| Mahalwari | Holt Mackenzie (brain child); changes under Lord William Bentinck | 1822 | Ganga valley, North-West Province, parts of Central India, Punjab | The village (Mahal) through its Lambardar |