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Zamindari
System in Modern History Notes for
India UPSC
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The Zamindari System in India was introduced both by the Mughal rulers and the British
East India Company. However, the functioning and role of Zamindars varied greatly in
the two periods. Zamindari System in India is one of the most important topics for UPSC
IAS Examination.

In this article on Zamindari System in India, we shall discuss its functioning, effects and
finally its abolition. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam.

Also, study the NCERT Notes on Ryotwari System and Mahalwari System from the
linked article.

What was the Zamindari System in India?

 The Zamindari System in India was one among the three major oppressive
agricultural policies introduced by the Britishers.
 Others being the Ryotwari System and the Mahalwari System.
 The Zamindari System in India was brought under the leadership of Lord
Cornwallis in 1793.
 The Permanent Settlement System of 1793 is considered to be the genesis of the
Zamindari System in India.
 Under the Zamindari System, an agreement was signed between the British
Officers and the Zamindars.
 Under this agreement, the Zamindars were provided with ‘Zamindari Rights’ or
‘Ownership Rights’ of the land.
 In turn, the Zamindars had to pay a hefty amount to the East India Company.

Study the NCERT Notes on Subsidiary Alliance here.

Zamindari System in India was Introduced by:

 As we have discussed, the Zamindari System was introduced by the Britishers
under the Permanent Settlements Act, 1793.
 However, the Zamindari System was also in place during the Mughal Empire.
 But, the Land Revenue System of the Mughals had a lot of differences as
compared to the Zamindari System introduced by the Britishers.
 To begin with, the Zamindar was not made the owner of the land during the
Mughal Era.
 Also, the peasants were not evicted from their lands during the Zamindari System
of the Mughals, as long as they kept paying the rents.

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 Thus, the Land Revenue System of the Mughals can be said to be far less
exploitative towards the peasants as compared to the Zamindari System introduced
by the Britishers.
Study the NCERT Notes on Charter Act of 1813 here.

How Exactly Did the Zamindari System in India Function?

 To understand the meaning of the Zamindari System in India in a true sense, it is
very important to understand how exactly it functioned.
 The Zamindars gave their lands to the peasants on rent and the peasants had to pay
a rent to the Zamindars in the form of produce.
 The rent collected by the Zamindars from the peasants was divided into 11 parts.
 Out of these 11 parts, 10 parts had to be provided to the East India Company, and
only 1 part belonged to the Zamindars.

Study the NCERT Notes on Government of India Act, 1919 here.

Effects of the Zamindari System in India on Indigneous

Agriculture
 The Zamindari System introduced in India specially by the British had far-reaching
effects on the Indigneous Agriculture and peasants of India.
 As Zamindars were made owners of the land under the British Era, the Zamindars
had the right to evict the peasants as per their whims and fancies.
 Indigneous peasants, who were once the owners of the lands, were now made
tenants of their own lands.
 Whenever the Zamindars wanted a higher share of the produce, and a particular
peasant wasn’t able to pay the same, the peasant was forced to evict from his own
land.
 This deteriorated the condition of the peasants to a great extent and this act became
the reason for a large number of peasant movements as we will discuss further in
this article.

Study the NCERT notes on Revolutionaries in the Indian Freedom Movement here.

How did the Zamindari System in India Inspired the Peasant

Movements?
 As we have already analyzed, the conditions of the indigneous peasants and
agriculture at large deteriorated because of the oppressive agricultural practices of

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the British like the Permanent Settlement System/Zamindari System, Ryotwari

System and Mahalwari System.
 All these oppressive policies led to a large number of peasant movements in the
coming decades.
 We will analyse some of these peasant movements in this part of the article.

1. The Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 led by Mahatma Gandhi against the

oppression of Indigo cultivators was one of the first major peasant movements in
India. This movement also indirectly raised voice against other oppressive policies
like the Zamindari System in India, Ryotwari and Mahalwari System in India.
2. Then, the Kheda Satyagraha was led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1918 against the issue
of high taxation after an episode of plague epidemic and a subsequent crop failure.
3. Indian peasants also played an important role in the Non-Cooperation Movement
led by Mahatma Gandhi against British oppressive policies like the Zamindari
System in India and its abolition.
4. Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, also raised
the issues of peasants. Herein, Sardar Patel raised his voice against the 30 %
increase in taxation following a major flood incident and subsequent crop failure.
5. Peasants also actively participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement to actively
protest against policies like the Zamindari System in India.
6. Apart from the national peasant movements, mainly led by leaders like Mahatma
Gandhi and Sardar Patel, a lot of local level peasant movements were also
spearheaded against oppressive policies like the Zamindari System in India.
7. The issues related to indigneous agriculture and peasants also formed a part of
Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme of the Indian National Congress
Session held in 1931 in Karachi.
8. Further, the demands raised in the Karachi Session of INC in 1935 were further
substantiated with the release of an ‘Agrarian Programme’ during the Faizpur
Session of 1936.
9. Lastly, a resolution to abolish the Zamindari System in India was passed in the
Kisan Conference held in Allahabad in 1936.
10.Similar resolutions against the Zamindari System in India were also passed in
Bihar Kisan Sabha presided over by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati and Andhra
Riyad Association of NG Ranga.

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Abolition of the Zamindari System

 Post Independence, the Zamindari System in India was finally abolished.
 For the same, the constitution was amended for the first time after independence in
1951.
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 This amendment introduced changes in Article 19 and Article 31 of the

constitution.
 States were allowed to bring legislation and end the Zamindari System in India.
 For the same, changes were made in the Right to Property under Article 31.

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