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 report that reproduced zamindars’ and ryots’ petitions as appendices for consideration of the British Parliament is The Fifth Report. The Fifth Report, presented in 1813, was part of a series of reports produced by the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Affairs of the East India Company. It focused on the functioning and management of the East India Company in India. Among various documents, it included petitions and grievances from both zamindars (landlords) and ryots (peasants) to provide a comprehensive view of the situation in India to the British Parliament. This was vital for understanding the impact of British policies on the local populations and addressing their concerns. 

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Significance: The report exposed the flaws in colonial land revenue policies and became an important historical document for studying early British colonial exploitation in India.