Rural Life and Society

Unit - 3

Rural Life and Society

Learning Objectives

â–¶To know the land revenue policy under the British Rule

â–¶To understand the Merits and Demerits of the land revenue policy

â–¶To know the agrarian crisis and revolts

Introduction

In the pre-colonial period, Indian economy was predominantly an agrarian economy. Agriculture was then the primary occupation of the people and even industries like textiles, sugar, oil, etc. were dependent on it. The British Government in India did not adopt a pro-Indian agriculture and land revenue policy. British Government introduced three major land revenue and tenurial systems in India, namely, the Permanent Settlement, the Mahalwari system and the Ryotwari system. The economic exploitation of the peasants let to the revolt in future.