Correct Option
The Ryotwari Settlement was a land revenue system introduced by the British in parts of India, primarily in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies, under administrators like Thomas Munro and Alexander Read.
Statement 1: The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government.
This statement is correct. Under the Ryotwari system, the cultivators, known as ryots, were recognized as the proprietors of the land. They were responsible for paying land revenue directly to the British government, thereby eliminating intermediaries such as zamindars who were central to systems like the Permanent Settlement.
Statement 2: The Government gave Pattas to the Ryots.
This statement is correct. The government issued pattas, which were title deeds or certificates of land ownership, directly to the ryots. These pattas formally documented the land held by the ryot, the assessment (tax) payable, and the rights associated with the landholding.
Statement 3: The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed.
This statement is correct. A fundamental feature of the Ryotwari system was the detailed survey and assessment of agricultural land. Revenue rates were not permanently fixed but were revised periodically (typically every 20-30 years) based on the actual measurement of the land, soil quality, and estimated crop potential. This systematic assessment aimed to determine the revenue demand more accurately.
Since all three statements accurately describe the key features of the Ryotwari Settlement, option C is the correct answer.
Incorrect Options
Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they imply that one or more of the given statements are false. As detailed above, all three statements accurately reflect the characteristics and operational mechanisms of the Ryotwari Settlement, making option C the only correct choice.