Q1: What was the main purpose of the revenue systems introduced by the British in India? (a) To improve agricultural productivity (b) To collect maximum revenue for Company expenses (c) To provide facilities to peasants (d) To reduce corruption among officials
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The British introduced new land revenue systems to collect maximum revenue for buying goods for export, maintaining armies, running administration, and funding wars.
Q2: Under the Permanent Settlement, who became the hereditary owners of land? (a) Peasants (b) East India Company officials (c) Zamindars (d) Village headmen
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 gave zamindars land ownership rights, making them hereditary owners while peasants became their tenants.
Q3: Which system of revenue collection was introduced by Thomas Munro? (a) Permanent Settlement (b) Ryotwari Settlement (c) Mahalwari Settlement (d) Revenue Farming System
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: Thomas Munro introduced the Ryotwari Settlement in Madras Presidency, where revenue was collected directly from peasants (ryots) by the East India Company.
Q4: Why did indigo cultivation exhaust soil fertility? (a) It required too much water (b) It depleted nutrients making rice cultivation impossible (c) It attracted harmful insects (d) It needed chemical fertilizers
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: Indigo required fertile land and exhausted soil fertility so much that rice could not be grown after indigo cultivation due to soil depletion.
Q5: What was the outcome of the Indigo Commission formed after the 1859 rebellion? (a) Planters were rewarded for their work (b) Ryots were forced to continue indigo cultivation (c) Ryots could refuse future indigo production after completing contracts (d) Indigo production was banned everywhere
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The Indigo Commission found planters guilty of coercive methods. Ryots had to complete existing contracts but could refuse future indigo production.
Fill in the Blanks
Q1: The Battle of _____ gave the East India Company control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
Solution:
Ans: Buxar
Q2: The Revenue Farming System was introduced by _____.
Solution:
Ans: Warren Hastings
Q3: In the Mahalwari Settlement, _____ referred to a village or group of villages with joint land ownership.
Solution:
Ans: Mahal
Q4: The play _____ by Dinabandhu Mitra highlighted the plight of indigo cultivators.
Solution:
Ans: Neel Darpan
Q5: In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi led the _____ Movement against indigo planters in Bihar.
Solution:
Ans: Champaran
True or False
Q1: The severe famine of 1770 killed about one-third of Bengal's population.
Solution:
Ans: True Explanation: A severe famine occurred in 1770 that killed approximately one-third of the population of Bengal due to the economic crisis.
Q2: Under the Permanent Settlement, zamindars invested heavily in land improvement.
Solution:
Ans: False Explanation: Zamindars did not invest in land improvement because they had to pay high fixed revenue to the British government regularly.
Q3: By 1810, Indian indigo dominated the world market with 95% exported to Britain.
Solution:
Ans: True Explanation: Indigo production in Bengal grew rapidly, and by 1810, it dominated the world market with 95% of production exported to Britain.
Q4: In the Ryotwari Settlement, proper surveys were conducted everywhere to fix revenue accurately.
Solution:
Ans: False Explanation: No proper surveys were conducted in many areas under the Ryotwari Settlement, which led to over-assessment of revenue from peasants.
Q5: Women participated in the Indigo Rebellion of 1859.
Solution:
Ans: True Explanation: During the Indigo Rebellion in 1859, women also participated alongside men in resisting the oppressive indigo cultivation system.
Match the Following
Column A
Column B
1. Lord Cornwallis
A. Mahalwari Settlement
2. Thomas Munro
B. Indigo Commission
3. Holt Mackenzie
C. Revenue Farming System
4. Warren Hastings
D. Permanent Settlement
5. John Peter Grant
E. Ryotwari Settlement
Solution:
Ans:
1 - D: Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in 1793 in Bengal, giving zamindars hereditary ownership rights over land.
2 - E: Thomas Munro introduced the Ryotwari Settlement in Madras Presidency where revenue was collected directly from peasants by the Company.
3 - A: Holt Mackenzie introduced the Mahalwari Settlement in 1822 where village communities were responsible for paying revenue collectively.
4 - C: Warren Hastings introduced the Revenue Farming System where revenue collection rights were auctioned to the highest bidder periodically.
5 - B: Lieutenant Governor John Peter Grant banned forced advances for indigo cultivation and later the Indigo Commission investigated planters' coercive methods.
Short Answer Questions
Q1: What were the main features of the Revenue Farming System introduced by Warren Hastings?
Solution:
Ans: The Revenue Farming System introduced by Warren Hastings auctioned revenue collection rights to the highest bidder for five years. Bidding was not based on actual land productivity, leading to excessively high bids. Revenue farmers focused on extracting maximum revenue without caring about agricultural productivity or land improvement. This caused peasants to face heavy revenue demands and financial strain, ultimately ruining the agricultural community.
Q2: How did the Permanent Settlement affect peasants in Bengal?
Solution:
Ans: Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, peasants became tenants of zamindars and had to pay fixed revenue amounts. They faced extremely high revenue demands with no relief during crop failures, floods, or droughts. Peasants often borrowed money from moneylenders to pay dues, leading to debt traps. Many became bonded laborers or begari. The system caused severe hardship and impoverishment of the peasant community.
Q3: Describe the two systems used for indigo cultivation in Bengal.
Solution:
Ans: Indigo was grown through two systems: nij and ryoti. In the nij system, planters controlled land directly for indigo cultivation. In the ryoti system, peasants signed contracts called satta after receiving cash advances at low interest. They had to grow indigo on 25% of their land using planter-provided seeds and tools. Planters paid low prices for indigo, trapping peasants in continuous debt cycles.
Q4: What were the main causes that led to the Indigo Rebellion of 1859?
Solution:
Ans: The Indigo Rebellion occurred due to multiple oppressive practices. Indigo cultivation exhausted soil fertility, making rice cultivation impossible afterwards. Planters evicted peasants to lease large areas of land. Labor demands conflicted with rice cultivation schedules. Peasants received low prices for indigo and were trapped in debt through the contract system. These harsh conditions forced peasants to revolt against the oppressive indigo cultivation system.
Q5: How did British revenue policies impact agriculture and peasants' lives in India?
Solution:
Ans: British revenue policies aimed at maximizing land revenue led to over-assessment everywhere. High revenue demands forced peasants to flee, sell, or mortgage their land. Many borrowed money and became bonded laborers. Agriculture stagnated as neither the British nor zamindars improved land productivity or provided facilities like irrigation. Land productivity declined, causing crop shortages and frequent famines, destroying rural economy and peasant livelihoods completely.
The document Worksheet with Solutions: Rural Life and Society is a part of the Class 8 Course History Class 8 ICSE.
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