Topic: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues;
1. Compare and contrast the Permanent Settlement and Mahalwari Settlement, introduced by the British. What were the impact of the new forms of revenue settlements introduced by the British? (250 words)
Difficulty: Easy
Reference: A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum Publishers
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1.
Key Demand of the question:
To bring out the major differences between Permanent settlement and Mahalwari settlement and to write about the overall impact of Permanent, Ryotwari and Mahawlari settlement on Indian agriculture.
Directive:
Compare and contrast – provide for a detailed comparison of the two types, their features that are similar as well as different. One must provide for detailed assessment of the two.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by briefly writing about the nature of the two settlements.
Body:
In detail, bring out the differences between both the settlement systems – context of introduction, areas of introduction, fixation of Land revenue, collection of revenue and revision of land revenue etc.
Next, write about the overall impact these Land Revenue systems on Indian agriculture – Commercialization of Agriculture, Fragmentation of Lands, Absentee Landlordism, indebtedness of peasants and depressing effect upon the rural economy etc.
Conclusion:
Write about how these impacts led to mobilization of peasants and over a period of time, the peasant issues became a part of mainstream national movement.
