Write a short note on explain the nature of revenue administration at the advent of British rule in India ?

At the advent of British rule in India, the nature of revenue administration underwent a significant transformation, marking a departure from traditional systems prevalent in pre-colonial India. The British introduced a centralized revenue administration model aimed at maximizing revenue extraction for the colonial state, which had profound implications for the socio-economic and political landscape of the country.

Under British rule, the revenue administration was characterized by several key features:

1. Permanent Settlement: One of the most significant changes introduced by the British was the implementation of the Permanent Settlement in certain regions, notably Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Odisha. This system, established by the Cornwallis Code of 1793, fixed land revenue rates in perpetuity, transferring ownership of land to intermediaries known as zamindars. The zamindars, in turn, were responsible for collecting revenue from peasants and paying a fixed sum to the colonial government, providing a stable revenue stream for the British.

2. Ryotwari and Mahalwari Settlements: In other regions, such as parts of Madras Presidency and Punjab, the British implemented Ryotwari and Mahalwari Settlements. Under the Ryotwari system, individual peasants (ryots) held direct ownership of land and paid revenue directly to the colonial state. The Mahalwari system, on the other hand, involved revenue collection from villages or clusters of villages, with village communities collectively responsible for payment.

3. Introduction of Land Revenue Assessments: The British conducted extensive surveys and assessments of landholdings to determine revenue liabilities, often resulting in increased taxation burdens on peasants. The revenue assessments were based on land productivity, with little consideration given to local conditions, crop failures, or the socio-economic status of peasants.

4. Centralized Revenue Collection: Revenue administration was centralized under British rule, with revenue officers appointed by the colonial government to oversee tax collection, land surveys, and revenue settlements. The District Collector emerged as a key figure in revenue administration, responsible for implementing colonial policies, resolving disputes, and maintaining law and order in the district.

5. Legal Framework: The British introduced a codified legal framework to govern revenue administration, including regulations, codes, and acts such as the Bengal Regulation of 1793, the Madras Revenue Code of 1835, and the Punjab Land Revenue Act of 1887. These laws provided the legal basis for revenue collection, land tenure, and property rights under colonial rule.

Overall, the nature of revenue administration at the advent of British rule in India was characterized by centralized control, revenue maximization, and the imposition of British colonial interests over indigenous systems of land tenure and taxation. The British revenue policies had far-reaching consequences, including the impoverishment of peasants, the consolidation of landlordism, and the transformation of agrarian relations, laying the foundations for socio-economic inequalities and agrarian unrest that persisted long after independence.