Correct Option
The correct option is (c) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Ryotwari system was a land revenue settlement introduced by the British in parts of India, primarily the Madras and Bombay Presidencies. Unlike the Permanent Settlement, which relied on intermediaries (Zamindars), the Ryotwari system established a direct relationship between the government and the cultivator.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Ryotwari system was pioneered by Captain Alexander Read and Thomas Munro. It was first introduced in the Baramahal district by Read in 1792 and was later extended to the rest of the Madras Presidency by Munro (who became Governor of Madras in 1820) and subsequently to the Bombay Presidency.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The introduction of the Ryotwari system in South India was based on the argument that there were no traditional Zamindars or large feudal landlords in the region, unlike in Bengal. Munro argued that the settlement should be made according to the local tradition where the cultivator was the proprietor of the land.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The defining feature of the Ryotwari system was that the settlement was made directly with the cultivators (ryots). The ryot was recognized as the owner of the land and was directly responsible for paying revenue to the state, eliminating intermediaries.
Key Takeaway
Ryotwari System: Associated with Read and Munro; implemented in South and West India; based on the absence of Zamindars; involved direct revenue collection from the Ryots (cultivators).