Revenue Reforms and Police Reforms Under Lord Cornwallis | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
   
 
  
Revenue Reforms 
During pre-British period a share on the 
crop was fixed as land tax which led to 
variable revenue to the land lord. When 
Warren Hastings came to power he 
introduced the annual lease system of 
auctioning the land to the highest bidder. 
This led to getting a fixed revenue to the 
British EIC. But it created chaos in the 
revenue administration and the leased 
land holders failed to repay the agreed 
amount. As the period was fixed for only 1 year, the land holders were not interested to invest 
for increasing the productivity of land. Thus the productivity of land decreased every year along 
with increase in defaulters. 
Cornwallis at the time of his appointment was instructed by the Directors to find a satisfactory 
and permanent solution to the problems of the land revenue system in order to protect the 
interests of both the Company and the cultivators. He introduced a system called Permanent 
Settlement System or Zamindari System in Bengal in 1793 and later extended to Bihar and Orissa. 
Permanent Settlement System or Zamindari 
System: This system was introduced as a 
decennial (Ten years) settlement which was 
subsequently declared to be continuous. The 
main features of the Permanent Settlement 
were as follows:  
? Zamindars of Bengal were recognized as 
the owners of land as long as they paid the 
revenue to the East India Company regularly. 
? They were given hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them – They can 
Sell or Transfer land 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
Page 2


 
   
 
  
Revenue Reforms 
During pre-British period a share on the 
crop was fixed as land tax which led to 
variable revenue to the land lord. When 
Warren Hastings came to power he 
introduced the annual lease system of 
auctioning the land to the highest bidder. 
This led to getting a fixed revenue to the 
British EIC. But it created chaos in the 
revenue administration and the leased 
land holders failed to repay the agreed 
amount. As the period was fixed for only 1 year, the land holders were not interested to invest 
for increasing the productivity of land. Thus the productivity of land decreased every year along 
with increase in defaulters. 
Cornwallis at the time of his appointment was instructed by the Directors to find a satisfactory 
and permanent solution to the problems of the land revenue system in order to protect the 
interests of both the Company and the cultivators. He introduced a system called Permanent 
Settlement System or Zamindari System in Bengal in 1793 and later extended to Bihar and Orissa. 
Permanent Settlement System or Zamindari 
System: This system was introduced as a 
decennial (Ten years) settlement which was 
subsequently declared to be continuous. The 
main features of the Permanent Settlement 
were as follows:  
? Zamindars of Bengal were recognized as 
the owners of land as long as they paid the 
revenue to the East India Company regularly. 
? They were given hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them – They can 
Sell or Transfer land 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
 
   
 
? The amount of revenue that the zamindars had to pay to the Company was firmly 
fixed and would not be raised under any circumstances. It was 10/11 to Company + 
1/11 to Zamindars 
? Ryots became tenants since they were considered the tillers of the soil. 
Even though the Zamindari system was introduced as permanent solution to land revenue issues, 
it also had advantages as well disadvantages 
? Fixed revenue to the British EIC and responsibility of welfare of tenants on zamindar 
? Permanent nature of the system, there was a sense of security for everyone 
? Zamindars would have an interest in the improvement in the land thereby 
improving the revenue. 
? Land assessment was not done properly and land revenue was fixed arbitrarily. 
? As the revenue fixed by the system was too high, many zamindars defaulted on 
payments. 
? This created a class of hereditary landlords who are favorable to British 
Administration. 
This system proved to be a great boon to the zamindars and to the government of Bengal. It 
formed a regular income and stabilised the government of the Company. The zamindars 
prospered at the cost of the welfare of the tenants. This had resulted in a great deal of misery 
amongst the peasants and farmers. 
Judicial Reforms 
Cornwallis completely reorganized the Civil and criminal courts.  
 
? At the top of the judicial system, the highest civil and criminal courts of appeal, namely 
Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat Adalat were functioning at Calcutta. Both of 
them were presided over by the Governor-General and his Council. 
Page 3


 
   
 
  
Revenue Reforms 
During pre-British period a share on the 
crop was fixed as land tax which led to 
variable revenue to the land lord. When 
Warren Hastings came to power he 
introduced the annual lease system of 
auctioning the land to the highest bidder. 
This led to getting a fixed revenue to the 
British EIC. But it created chaos in the 
revenue administration and the leased 
land holders failed to repay the agreed 
amount. As the period was fixed for only 1 year, the land holders were not interested to invest 
for increasing the productivity of land. Thus the productivity of land decreased every year along 
with increase in defaulters. 
Cornwallis at the time of his appointment was instructed by the Directors to find a satisfactory 
and permanent solution to the problems of the land revenue system in order to protect the 
interests of both the Company and the cultivators. He introduced a system called Permanent 
Settlement System or Zamindari System in Bengal in 1793 and later extended to Bihar and Orissa. 
Permanent Settlement System or Zamindari 
System: This system was introduced as a 
decennial (Ten years) settlement which was 
subsequently declared to be continuous. The 
main features of the Permanent Settlement 
were as follows:  
? Zamindars of Bengal were recognized as 
the owners of land as long as they paid the 
revenue to the East India Company regularly. 
? They were given hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them – They can 
Sell or Transfer land 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
 
   
 
? The amount of revenue that the zamindars had to pay to the Company was firmly 
fixed and would not be raised under any circumstances. It was 10/11 to Company + 
1/11 to Zamindars 
? Ryots became tenants since they were considered the tillers of the soil. 
Even though the Zamindari system was introduced as permanent solution to land revenue issues, 
it also had advantages as well disadvantages 
? Fixed revenue to the British EIC and responsibility of welfare of tenants on zamindar 
? Permanent nature of the system, there was a sense of security for everyone 
? Zamindars would have an interest in the improvement in the land thereby 
improving the revenue. 
? Land assessment was not done properly and land revenue was fixed arbitrarily. 
? As the revenue fixed by the system was too high, many zamindars defaulted on 
payments. 
? This created a class of hereditary landlords who are favorable to British 
Administration. 
This system proved to be a great boon to the zamindars and to the government of Bengal. It 
formed a regular income and stabilised the government of the Company. The zamindars 
prospered at the cost of the welfare of the tenants. This had resulted in a great deal of misery 
amongst the peasants and farmers. 
Judicial Reforms 
Cornwallis completely reorganized the Civil and criminal courts.  
 
? At the top of the judicial system, the highest civil and criminal courts of appeal, namely 
Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat Adalat were functioning at Calcutta. Both of 
them were presided over by the Governor-General and his Council. 
 
   
 
? There were four provincial courts of appeal at Calcutta, Dacca, Murshidabad and Patna, 
each under three European judges assisted by Indian advisers. 
? District and City courts functioned each under a European judge. Every district was 
provided with a court.  
? Indian judges or Munsiffs were appointed to all the courts at the bottom of the judicial 
system. 
Police Reforms 
The effective implementation of judicial reforms required the reorganization of police 
administration. The District Judge controlled the police. Each district was divided into thanas or 
police circles each of which was about 20 square miles. It was placed under an Indian officer called 
the daroga who was ably assisted by many constables.