The ‘Sunset’ law was associated with which of the following land revenue system?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Permanent Settlement.

The 'Sunset Law' was associated with the Permanent Settlement land revenue system. Under this system, zamindars were required to pay a fixed amount of revenue to the British East India Company by a specified date. If they failed to pay by the deadline—before sunset on the due date—their lands were liable to be confiscated and sold to the highest bidder. This provision was known as the 'Sunset Law'.

Additional Information:

• Ryotwari Settlement: The Ryotwari system was introduced by Thomas Munro in 1820, primarily in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies. Under this system, individual cultivators, known as 'ryots,' were recognized as landowners and paid taxes directly to the government. This direct relationship eliminated intermediaries like zamindars. However, the tax rates were often high, leading to financial strain on the peasants.

• Mahalwari Settlement: Introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822 and later modified by Lord William Bentinck in 1833, the Mahalwari system was implemented in regions such as the North-Western Provinces, Central India, and Punjab. In this system, land was divided into 'mahals,' which could consist of one or more villages. The village community or its headman was collectively responsible for paying the land revenue. Ownership rights were vested with the peasants, but the system often led to high revenue demands and corruption.

• Ijaradari System: The Ijaradari system, also known as revenue farming, involved the auctioning of revenue collection rights to the highest bidder, known as the 'ijaradars.' These ijaradars were responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and paying a fixed sum to the government. This system often led to excessive exploitation of peasants, as ijaradars aimed to maximize their profits.