Question

Why was the Mahalwari system inefficient?

• A. The company officials fixed more money than the land could produce.
• B. The farmers and agricultural labourers were inefficient.
• C. The Zamindars demanded more revenue from the farmers than they could produce.
• D. The Zamindars and the marginal farmers were inefficient.

Answer 1

The correct option is A The company officials fixed more money than the land could produce.

R.M. Bird and James Thomson introduced the Mahalwari system. In this system, the land was divided into ‘Mahals’ or ‘Taluks’. The tax was collected in each Mahal by the village headman. However, the company officials demanded more tax than fields could produce. Thus, many Zamindars lost their land, and marginal farmers and agricultural labourers suffered in this system.