Ruling the Countryside

When did the East India Company become the Diwan of Bengal?

• 5 March 1783

• 20 July 1793

• 12 August 1765

• 1 January 1770

What was the main aim of the Company regarding revenue?

• To improve agricultural practices

• To buy fine cotton and silk cloth cheaply

• To invest in local industries

• To increase revenue for military expenses

What was introduced by the Company in 1793 to ensure a regular flow of revenue?

• Mahalwari Settlement

• Permanent Settlement

• Ryotwari System

• Indigo Commission

What problem arose from the Permanent Settlement?

• Zamindars invested heavily in land improvement

• The Company lost control over revenue

• High fixed revenue led to zamindars not improving land

• Peasants received too much support

Who devised the new revenue system that came into effect in 1822?

• Holt Mackenzie

• The Indigo Commission

• The British Parliament

• Mahatma Gandhi

What was the mahalwari settlement?

• A system for agricultural loans

• A system for indigo cultivation

• A system where village headmen collected revenue

• A system where zamindars collected revenue

What crop did the Company try to expand cultivation of in the late 18th century?

• Wheat

• Indigo

• Sugarcane

• Rice

What was the main issue with nij cultivation?

• It required too many workers

• It was too expensive

• It was difficult to expand the area

• It produced low-quality indigo

What did the ryots receive from planters under the ryoti system?

• Cash advances

• Land ownership

• High-interest loans

• Free seeds

What was the outcome of the 'Blue Rebellion'?

• The zamindars gained more power

• The British government supported the planters

• Indigo production increased

• Indigo production collapsed in Bengal