Mahalwari System

The Mahalwari System was a land revenue system implemented by the British in India during the 19th century. It involved assessing revenue based on whole villages or groups of villages, known as "mahals." Under this system, local landlords or village headmen were responsible for collecting taxes from farmers and paying them to the British government. This approach aimed to simplify tax collection and ensure a stable revenue flow. However, it often led to disputes over land rights and heavy taxation, adversely affecting farmers and contributing to agricultural distress during the colonial period.