Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Consider the following statements about land revenue settlements during the British Period and find out the true ones:
A. Mohammad Raza Khan was acting as the Naib Diwan for the Company
B. A new system known as ‘Farming system’ was introduced in 1765
C. The Permanent Settlement vested the land ownership rights in the zamindars
D. The Ryotwari experiment was started by Charles Metcalfe in Baramahal in 1792
E. R.M. Bird provided a detailed survey to assess the revenue of entire Mahal or fiscal unit

Correct option is B

A. Mohammad Raza Khan was acting as the Naib Diwan for the Company – Correct. After the East India Company acquired Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765, Mohammad Raza Khan was appointed as the Naib Diwan (Deputy Revenue Officer) to assist the Company.
B. A new system known as ‘Farming system’ was introduced in 1765 – Incorrect. While revenue farming existed earlier, the formal "farming system" was not introduced officially by the Company in 1765. Instead, initially they attempted direct collection which later shifted into different settlement systems (Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari).
C. The Permanent Settlement vested the land ownership rights in the zamindars – Correct. The 1793 Permanent Settlement (by Lord Cornwallis) made Zamindars hereditary landowners responsible for revenue collection.
D. The Ryotwari experiment was started by Charles Metcalfe in Baramahal in 1792 – Incorrect. The Ryotwari system was first started by Captain Alexander Read and later expanded by Thomas Munro in Baramahal, not Charles Metcalfe. Metcalfe is associated more with administrative reforms and free press in India.
E. R.M. Bird provided a detailed survey to assess the revenue of entire Mahal or fiscal unit – Correct. R.M. Bird was instrumental in surveying and implementing the Mahalwari system in the North-Western Provinces.

Information Booster :

Mohammad Raza Khan: After the Battle of Buxar (1764) and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), he was appointed Naib Diwan by the Company to manage civil and revenue administration. His role was pivotal in establishing early colonial control. Permanent Settlement (1793): Introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, it declared Zamindars as proprietors of land with a fixed revenue to pay. It was expected to create a loyal landed aristocracy but led to exploitation of peasants. R.M. Bird and Mahalwari System: In the early 19th century, Bird conducted detailed surveys in North-Western Provinces. The Mahalwari system involved joint revenue settlement with the village community (Mahals) collectively responsible for tax payment.

Additional knowledge:

Farming System (1765): Although revenue farming (ijaradari) existed before British rule, the Company initially did not introduce a formal 'farming system' immediately in 1765. They experimented with different revenue collection methods, leading ultimately to Permanent Settlement.

Ryotwari Experiment (1792): The Ryotwari system was introduced first by Alexander Read and Thomas Munro in Baramahal, NOT by Charles Metcalfe. Metcalfe later worked in administrative reforms, not land revenue settlements in 1792.