Extra Question Class 8 Chapter 3 History Ruling the Countryside 

Short Answer Questions:

Q: What was the impact of the Permanent Settlement on the revenue system in rural India?

A: The Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis fixed the land revenue demand in perpetuity, leading to the entrenchment of the zamindari system and exacerbating the exploitation of peasants by landlords.

Q: Who were the intermediaries in the revenue collection system under the zamindari system?

A: The intermediaries in the revenue collection system under the zamindari system were the zamindars, who were landlords appointed by the British to collect revenue from peasants.

Q: What were the main features of the Mahalwari system introduced by the British?

A: The main features of the Mahalwari system included the assessment of land revenue directly from village communities, joint responsibility of villagers for tax payment, and the retention of landownership by peasant communities.

Q: How did the British administration use the police force to maintain control in rural areas?

A: The British administration used the police force to maintain control in rural areas by establishing a network of police stations, recruiting local constables, and deploying armed forces to suppress dissent and enforce law and order.

Q: What were the implications of the Ryotwari system on peasant cultivators?

A: The Ryotwari system, which involved direct settlement of land revenue with individual peasant cultivators, led to increased tax burdens, vulnerability to market fluctuations, and loss of land rights among peasants. 

Q: What was the significance of the Ryotwari system introduced by the British?

A: The Ryotwari system involved direct settlement of land revenue with individual peasant cultivators, eliminating intermediaries like zamindars. This system aimed to simplify revenue collection but often burdened peasants with heavy taxes and made them vulnerable to exploitation by revenue officials.

Q: How did the British administration implement revenue collection in the Mahalwari system?

A: Under the Mahalwari system, land revenue was collected from entire villages or mahals. Villagers collectively owned and cultivated land, and they were jointly responsible for paying taxes. The British administration conducted periodic assessments to determine the revenue demand from each mahal.

Q: What were some of the challenges faced by the police force in maintaining law and order in rural areas during British rule?

A: Some challenges faced by the police force in rural areas included limited resources and manpower, vast geographical distances, lack of modern communication infrastructure, resistance from local communities, and the presence of organized peasant movements or rebellions.

Q: How did the British administration use judicial and legal systems to assert control in rural India?

A: The British administration established courts and legal institutions, such as district courts and magistrates, to enforce colonial laws and regulations in rural areas. These institutions adjudicated disputes, resolved conflicts, and upheld British authority, often siding with landlords and revenue officials against peasants.

Q: What were some of the methods employed by peasant communities to resist British land revenue policies?

A: Peasant communities employed various methods to resist British land revenue policies, including non-payment of taxes, organized protests and demonstrations, refusal to comply with revenue assessments, formation of peasant associations or unions, and occasional outbreaks of violence or armed rebellion against colonial authorities.

Long Answer Questions:

Q: Discuss the impact of the Ryotwari system on peasant cultivators and rural society in British India.

A: The Ryotwari system, which involved direct settlement of land revenue with individual peasant cultivators, had significant implications for peasant cultivators and rural society in British India. While it eliminated intermediaries like zamindars, it also burdened peasants with heavy tax responsibilities and made them vulnerable to exploitation by revenue officials. Peasants faced challenges such as rising tax demands, arbitrary revenue assessments, and loss of land rights. This system contributed to agrarian distress, indebtedness, and social unrest in rural areas, leading to various forms of peasant resistance and protest against colonial land revenue policies.

Q: Evaluate the effectiveness of British administrative methods in rural India during the colonial period.

A: British administrative methods in rural India during the colonial period were characterized by efforts to assert control, extract revenue, and maintain law and order. While the establishment of administrative institutions such as revenue departments, police forces, and courts helped extend British authority, these methods often faced challenges and limitations. Peasant resistance, administrative corruption, and socio-economic inequalities undermined the effectiveness of British administrative systems in rural areas. Moreover, colonial policies frequently prioritized the interests of landlords and colonial administrators over those of rural communities, leading to discontent and opposition among the peasantry.

Q: Examine the role of peasant movements in challenging British land revenue policies in rural India.

A: Peasant movements played a crucial role in challenging British land revenue policies in rural India during the colonial period. These movements emerged in response to oppressive taxation, arbitrary revenue assessments, and loss of land rights imposed by British administrators. Peasants organized protests, strikes, and demonstrations, formed associations or unions, and occasionally resorted to armed rebellion against colonial authorities. Peasant leaders such as Birsa Munda and Alluri Sitarama Raju mobilized rural communities and articulated demands for land rights, economic justice, and political autonomy. These movements contributed to the wider struggle for Indian independence and influenced subsequent agrarian reforms in post-colonial India.

Q: Discuss the impact of the Permanent Settlement on the rural economy and social structure in British India.

A: The Permanent Settlement had significant implications for the rural economy and social structure in British India. It entrenched the zamindari system, creating a class of absentee landlords who extracted high revenues from peasants while neglecting agricultural development. This led to widespread impoverishment of peasants, increased indebtedness, and social unrest. Moreover, the Permanent Settlement perpetuated inequalities, as landlords became entrenched in positions of power and privilege, exacerbating social divisions based on landownership.

Q: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Mahalwari and Ryotwari systems as revenue collection methods in colonial India.

A: The Mahalwari and Ryotwari systems were two different approaches to revenue collection introduced by the British in colonial India. The Mahalwari system, with its focus on village communities and joint responsibility for tax payment, had the advantage of preserving traditional landownership patterns and fostering a sense of collective ownership among villagers. However, it also suffered from inefficiencies in revenue assessment and collection, leading to disputes and conflicts within village communities. On the other hand, the Ryotwari system, with its direct settlement with individual peasant cultivators, simplified revenue administration but placed a heavy burden on peasants, who were vulnerable to market fluctuations and exploitation by revenue officials. Overall, both systems had strengths and weaknesses, and their effectiveness varied depending on local conditions and administrative practices.

Q: Explain the role of the police force in rural administration during British rule in India.

A: The police force played a crucial role in rural administration during British rule in India. It was tasked with maintaining law and order, enforcing colonial laws and regulations, and suppressing dissent and resistance among rural populations. The police established a presence in rural areas through the establishment of police stations, recruitment of local constables, and coordination with revenue officials and magistrates. However, the police force was often perceived as a tool of colonial oppression, as it was used to suppress peasant movements, quell protests, and protect the interests of landlords and colonial administrators.