Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British Rule?

1. Lord Cornwallis

2. Alexander Read

3. Thomas Munro

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: 2 and 3 only

The Ryotwari System was a major land revenue system introduced during British rule in India, primarily in the Madras, Bombay, parts of Assam, and Coorg provinces.

Let us analyze the individuals mentioned in the question to determine their association with land revenue systems in British India:

1. Lord Cornwallis:

Lord Cornwallis is famous for introducing the Permanent Settlement (also known as the Zamindari system) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1793. Under this system, zamindars were recognized as owners of the land and were responsible for collecting revenue for the East India Company. Thus, Cornwallis was not associated with the Ryotwari Settlement.

2. Captain Alexander Read:

Captain Alexander Read initially tried out the Ryotwari system on a small scale in the areas that were taken over by the British after the wars with Tipu Sultan (Baramahal region of Madras Presidency).

3. Thomas Munro:

Sir Thomas Munro subsequently developed and expanded the Ryotwari system across the Madras Presidency while serving as Governor of Madras (1820–1827). Under the Ryotwari Settlement, revenue was collected directly from the cultivators or peasants (called ryots) without any intermediaries like zamindars.

Conclusion:

Since Alexander Read and Thomas Munro were directly associated with introducing and developing the Ryotwari Settlement, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Hence, the correct option is 2 and 3 only.