Which one of the following statements with regard to ryotwari settlement is not correct ?

The Ryotwari settlement was introduced by Thomas Munro and Alexander Read in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies, covering southern and western India [1]. Unlike the Permanent Settlement, it established a direct contract between the state and the individual cultivator (ryot), effectively removing intermediaries like zamindars [2]. The revenue assessment was not permanent but was typically fixed for a period of 30 years before being subject to revision. Statement 4 is incorrect because the system's primary objective was to bypass the zamindars to ensure the state received a larger share of the surplus directly from the peasantry [1]. While it did not necessarily improve the peasants' economic condition—as the state acted as a 'giant zamindar'—it was designed to weaken the former landed elite (zamindars) rather than strengthen them.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 5: Land Reforms > Ryotwari Settlement: > p. 191
2. [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Envisioning a New Socio-Economic Order > a) Zamindari Abolition > p. 117