Question

Which report reproduced zamindars’ and ryots’ petitions as appendices for consideration of the British Parliament?

• A. The First Report
• B. The Seventh Report
• C. The Sixth Report
• D. The Fifth Report

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The "Fifth Report" of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Affairs of the East India Company (1812) included zamindars' and ryots' petitions as appendices for consideration by the British Parliament.

The report exposed the flaws in colonial land revenue policies and became an important historical document.

Answer 2

The Fifth Report (1812) is often cited in modern scholarship as a key source on the grievances of Indian agrarian society under early British rule.

Key Details:

Purpose: The report examined the economic and administrative impact of British rule in India, particularly focusing on land revenue systems like the Permanent Settlement (1793) in Bengal.

Content: It reproduced petitions, complaints, and testimonies from Indian zamindars (landlords) and ryots (peasants) highlighting exploitation, high revenue demands, and economic distress under Company rule.

Significance: The report exposed the flaws in colonial land revenue policies and became an important historical document for studying early British colonial exploitation in India.