Class 8 Social Science (Our Past III) Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

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I. Chapter Summary:

This chapter discusses how the British East India Company took control of Indian agriculture and rural economy after becoming Diwan of Bengal in 1765. It explains how the Company introduced various land revenue systems—such as the Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari systems—and how these affected Indian peasants, landlords, and the British themselves.

It also covers the impact on Indian agriculture, including the forced cultivation of indigo and the Indigo Revolt in Bengal. The chapter emphasizes the exploitative nature of British policies, which aimed to extract revenue and profit at the cost of Indian farmers and their livelihoods.

II. Key Concepts Covered:

III. Important Questions:

(A) Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark):

1. The Company became the Diwan of Bengal in:
   a) 1757
   b) 1765 ✔️
   c) 1793
   d) 1803

2. Which land revenue system involved zamindars?
   a) Mahalwari
   b) Ryotwari
   c) Permanent Settlement ✔️
   d) None of the above

3. The Indigo Revolt began in:
   a) 1757
   b) 1857
   c) 1859 ✔️
   d) 1875

4. Who wrote the book “The Blue Rebellion”?
   a) Mahatma Gandhi
   b) Dinabandhu Mitra ✔️
   c) Rabindranath Tagore
   d) Bankim Chandra

(B) Short Answer Questions (2/3 Marks):

1. What were the main features of the Permanent Settlement system? (PYQ 2020)

2. Why did the Company introduce the Mahalwari system? (PYQ 2021)

3. What was the role of zamindars in the revenue system?

4. What led to the Indigo Revolt of 1859?

(C) Long Answer Questions (5 Marks):

1. Compare and contrast the Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari, and Ryotwari systems. (PYQ 2022)

2. How did British revenue policies affect Indian peasants and agriculture?

3. Describe the causes and consequences of the Indigo Revolt.

4. How did the British benefit from land revenue systems in India?

(D) HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills):

1. If the Permanent Settlement had not been introduced, how might rural India have developed differently?

2. Do you think the Indigo Revolt was an early example of organized resistance? Justify your answer.

IV. Key Formulas / Concepts:

V. Deleted Portions (CBSE 2025–2026):

No portions have been deleted from this chapter as per the rationalized NCERT textbooks (2025–26).
Reference: https://ncert.nic.in

VI. Chapter-Wise Marks Bifurcation (Estimated – CBSE 2025–2026):

VII. Previous Year Questions (PYQs):

VIII. Real-World Application Examples:

• Farmer Rights Movements: Learnings from Indigo Revolt apply to present-day farmer protests.

• Taxation Systems: How colonial tax methods still influence land laws and land reforms.

• Cultural Reflection: Literature like Nil Darpan highlights the power of resistance through art.

IX. Student Tips & Strategies for Success:

 Time Management:

• Use timelines to learn events: 1765 (Diwani), 1793 (Permanent Settlement), 1859 (Indigo Revolt).

• Create comparison charts of revenue systems.

 Exam Preparation:

• Practice previous year questions in long and short format.

• Use map-based questions for regions under each revenue system.

 Stress Management:

• Watch documentaries or classroom plays on the Indigo Revolt.

• Discuss “what if” historical scenarios to increase engagement.

X. Career Guidance & Exploration:

For Classes 9–10:

XI. Important Notes:

•  Visit the official site: https://cbseacademic.nic.in for circulars.

•  Focus on cause-effect links: British policies → Farmer exploitation → Resistance.

•  Memorize revenue systems through mnemonics like PRM (Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari).