Question:medium

What was "Raiyatwari" system?

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To remember the British land revenue systems: \textbf{Zamindari:} Zamindar (landlord) is the middleman. \textbf{Raiyatwari:} Raiyat (cultivator) pays directly to the state. \textbf{Mahalwari:} Mahal (village) as a whole is responsible for payment.
Updated On: Feb 16, 2026
  • The tenants could keep two-third of the agricultural produce.
  • A situation of absentee landlords.
  • The cultivators paid agricultural tax directly to the British government.
  • Buying land in the name of others after land ceiling.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Conceptualization:
The query pertains to defining the Raiyatwari system, a principal land revenue framework implemented by the British in India.
Step 2: Granular Elucidation:
Deconstructing the terminology and system:
  • The term 'Raiyat' signifies a cultivator or peasant.
  • Within the Raiyatwari system, individual cultivators (Raiyats) were vested as land proprietors for their cultivated plots.
  • This system fostered a direct rapport between the cultivator and the state. Raiyats bore the responsibility of remitting land revenue (tax) directly to the British administration, bypassing intermediaries such as zamindars (landlords).
  • This stands in contrast to the Zamindari system, where landlords collected revenue from tenants and remitted a portion to the state, frequently resulting in absentee landlordism (Option B).
  • Options A and D address unrelated matters.
Step 3: Conclusive Determination:
The Raiyatwari system constituted a land revenue arrangement wherein cultivators remitted agricultural tax directly to the British government.
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