Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Modern India: Colonialism and the Countryside

Question:

Which of the following options is incorrect in context to why the zamindars of India defaulted on payment of revenue to the Britishers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

A) The initial demands were very high.
B) This high demand was imposed at a time when the prices of agricultural produce were very high, so the zamindars decided to keep the profit with them.
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 given options:

Options:

Only A

Only B

Both C and D

All are correct

Correct Answer:

Only B

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 2 - Only B 

A) The initial demands were very high. This is correct. 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.
B) This high demand was imposed at a time when the prices of agricultural produce were very high, so the zamindars decided to keep the profit with them. This is FalseRevenue was fixed at a time when prices of agricultural produce were low, not high. So this statement is factually wrong.  
C) The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually. This is True. 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.

D) The Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari. This is correct.