Revenue System & Tehsildar — Set 9

Correct Answer: A. A register listing all land holdings of each owner or tenant in a village

Khatauni (also Khatoni) is a village land register that lists all the land holdings of each individual owner or tenant in the village. For each owner or tenant, the Khatauni records their name, the Khasra numbers of their fields, area, nature of land, and revenue payable. The Khatauni is compiled from the Khasra and is used for collecting land revenue and maintaining ownership records. It is the primary document for proving tenancy rights in many states.

Correct Answer: A. The practice of paying annual land revenue in two installments - Kharif and Rabi

Kisht refers to the installment system for paying land revenue where farmers pay their annual land revenue dues in two installments corresponding to the two main agricultural seasons. The Kharif Kisht is collected after the Kharif harvest (around October-November) and the Rabi Kisht is collected after the Rabi harvest (around April-May). Revenue defaulters who fail to pay their Kishts can face coercive recovery measures. The Patwari maintains records of Kisht payments in the revenue register.

Correct Answer: A. A land tenure system in Rajasthan where Jagirdars held land in exchange for military service

The Thikadari system was a form of land tenure in Rajasthan (formerly Rajputana) where Thikadars (local landlords or chiefs) held land in exchange for rendering military service to the ruling prince. The Thikadars collected revenue from the villages under their jurisdiction. After independence, the Rajasthan Jagirdars' Abolition Act 1952 and subsequent legislation abolished Thikadari and Jagirdari systems, transferring land rights to the cultivators and bringing such lands under regular revenue administration.

Correct Answer: A. Common land belonging to the entire village community, like common grazing and village common land

Shamlat Deh refers to village common land that is collectively owned by all the owners of a village in proportion to their individual land holdings. This includes common grazing grounds, village ponds, cremation grounds, and other public spaces. The management of Shamlat Deh was traditionally done by the village community. After partition, the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act was enacted to regulate the use of Shamlat land. Encroachments on Shamlat land are a major problem in Punjab.

Correct Answer: A. A sub-division of a village estate grouping certain co-shareholders together

Taraf is a term used in land records to denote a sub-division or group within a larger village estate (Mahal), typically grouping certain co-shareholders who have common ancestry or origin. When a large village estate is divided among different lineage groups, each group's share may be designated as a Taraf. Revenue records may be organized at the Taraf level in villages with complex joint ownership. The Taraf concept is particularly relevant in determining inheritance rights in jointly held estates.

Correct Answer: A. A document acknowledging the possession and right to cultivate of a tenant or occupant

Patta Dakhilkar is a document issued by revenue authorities to a tenant or occupant acknowledging their right to possession and cultivation of a piece of agricultural land. It serves as evidence of tenancy rights and is used by the tenant to establish their legal right to cultivate the land. The Patta Dakhilkar is important for landless laborers and tribal people who have been given possession of government land as part of land reform programmes. It helps protect them from arbitrary eviction.

Correct Answer: A. An estate or land unit forming the basis of revenue assessment in North India

Mahal is a revenue unit comprising a village or group of villages that forms the basis for revenue assessment and land records in North India. The entire set of land records for a village or estate is organized at the Mahal level. The revenue demand is assessed and collected for the entire Mahal. The Mahal concept traces back to Mughal revenue administration where it was used to designate revenue-paying units. In modern revenue records, Mauza or village is the equivalent concept.

Correct Answer: A. Revenue collected from markets, tolls, and non-agricultural sources in Mughal and pre-British administration

Sayer refers to miscellaneous non-agricultural revenue collected in the Mughal and early British period from sources such as market fees, ferry tolls, customs duties, and other commercial transactions. Unlike Diwani (land revenue), Sayer revenue came from trade and commerce. The British largely abolished or regularized Sayer revenues through specific legislation and replaced them with modern tax systems. The historical study of Sayer provides insights into the non-agricultural economy of pre-modern India.

Correct Answer: A. A certificate issued by the Collector allowing compulsory recovery of government dues as land arrears

A Collector's Certificate is a legal instrument issued by the District Collector under the Revenue Recovery Act that authorizes recovery of government dues (arrears) from a person by treating them as if they were arrears of land revenue. This enables compulsory recovery through attachment and sale of the defaulter's property without going through a civil court. It is used to recover dues for various government loans, subsidies, and other financial assistance. The Revenue Recovery Act gives the Collector quasi-judicial powers for this purpose.

Correct Answer: A. A system of temporary revenue settlement for a shorter period in areas where permanent settlement is difficult

Thoka Bandobast refers to a temporary or short-term revenue settlement made in areas where it is difficult to conduct a proper long-term settlement due to frequent changes in cultivation patterns, frequent flooding, or newly settled territories. Under Thoka Bandobast, revenue rates are fixed for a shorter period and revised more frequently than under regular settlement. This system was particularly used in riverine and flood-prone areas of Bengal and Bihar. It provided more flexibility in revenue administration for dynamic agricultural conditions.