Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Modern India: Colonialism and the Countryside

Question:

Why did the zamindars regularly fail to pay the revenue demand in the early decades after the 'Permanent Settlement'. Choose the correct statements from below:

(A) The initial demands were very high.
(B) This high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural produce were depressed, making it difficult for the ryots to pay their dues to the zamindar.
(C) The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually.
(D) The 'Permanent Settlement' initially limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options:

(A), (B) and (D) only

(A), (B) and (C) only

(A), (B), (C) and (D)

(B), (C) and (D) only

Correct Answer:

(A), (B), (C) and (D)

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B), (C) and (D)

" In the early decades after the Permanent Settlement, however, zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue demand and unpaid balances accumulated. The reasons for this failure were various.

First: the initial demands were very high. This was because it was felt that if the demand was fixed for all time to come, the Company would never be able to claim a share of increased income from land when prices rose and cultivation expanded. To minimise this anticipated loss, the Company pegged the revenue  demand high, arguing that the burden on zamindars would gradually decline as agricultural production expanded and prices rose.

Second: this high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural produce were depressed, making it difficult for the ryots to pay their dues to the zamindar. If the zamindar could not collect the rent, how could he pay the Company?

Third: the revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually. In fact, according to the Sunset Law, if payment did not come in by sunset of the specified date, the zamindari was liable to be auctioned.

Fourth: the Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari."