UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Questions  >  With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of ... Start Learning for Free
With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:
1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.
2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  • a)
    1 only
  • b)
    2 only
  • c)
    Both 1 and 2
  • d)
    Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, ...
• Statement 1 is incorrect: Dahsala was neither a system of ten year settlement nor a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Under this system, the state’s demand was stated in cash.
Dahsala or Zabti System
• In 1580, Akbar instituted a new system called the dahsala. Under this system, the average produce of different crops as well as the average prices prevailing over the last ten (dah) years were calculated. One third of the average produce was the state share. The state demand was, however, stated in cash.
This was done by converting the state share into money on the basis of a schedule of average prices over the past ten years.
• Later, a further improvement was made. Not only were local prices taken into account, parganas having the same type of productivity were grouped into separate assessment circles. Thus, the peasant was required to pay on the basis of local productivity as well as local prices.
• There were a number of advantages of this system. As soon as the area sown by the peasant had been measured by means of the bamboos linked with iron rings, the peasants as well as the state knew what the dues were. The peasant was given remission in the land revenue if crops failed on account of drought, floods, etc. The system of measurement and the assessment based upon it is called the zabti system. Akbar introduced this system in the area from Lahore to Allahabad and in Malwa and Gujarat. The dahsala system was a further development of the zabti system.
• The dahsala was not a ten-year settlement. Nor was it a permanent one with the state retaining the right to modify it. However, with some changes, Akbar’s settlement remained the basis of the land revenue system of the Mughal Empire till the end or the seventeenth century.
• The zabti system is associated with Raja Todar Mal, and is sometimes called Todar Mal’s bandobast. Todar Mal was a brilliant revenue officer who had first served under Sher Shah.
• The peasants were allowed to choose between zabti and batai; under certain conditions. Thus, such a choice was given when the crops had been ruined. Under batai, the peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or in kind, though the state preferred cash. In case of crops such as cotton, indigo, oil seeds, sugarcane, etc., the state demand was invariably in cash. Hence, these were called cash crops.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, ...
Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment was a method of revenue collection during the Mughal period in India. The given statements about this system are as follows:

1. System of ten-year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification: This statement is correct. The Dahsala system was a ten-year settlement system in which the land revenue was fixed for every plot of land for ten years. However, it was not a permanent settlement as the state retained the right to modify the revenue assessment after the end of the ten-year period.

2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system: This statement is incorrect. Under the Dahsala system, the revenue was fixed in cash and the peasants had to pay the revenue in cash only. They did not have the option of paying in kind.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - Neither 1 nor 2.

In summary, the Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment was a ten-year settlement system in which the state retained the right of modification. However, the peasants had to pay the revenue in cash and did not have the option of paying in kind.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Similar UPSC Doubts

Top Courses for UPSC

With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for UPSC. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for UPSC Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice With reference to Dahsala or Zabti system of land revenue assessment, consider the following statements:1. It was a system of ten year settlement but not a permanent one as the state retained the right of modification.2. Peasants were given the choice of paying in cash or kind under this system.Which of the above statements is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice UPSC tests.
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev