Explanations:The Ijardari Settlement was a revenue system implemented in colonial India, particularly in Bengal, where the zamindars (landlords) were responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and paying a fixed amount to the British East India Company. This system was part of the broader administrative framework established by the British to manage and extract revenue from the Indian subcontinent.
One of the significant events that affected the revenue collection under the Ijardari Settlement was the Famine in Bengal, which occurred in the late 18th century. The famine was a catastrophic event that led to widespread crop failure, economic distress, and a significant loss of life. The impact of the famine was so severe that it affected the ability of peasants to pay their taxes, which in turn affected the revenue collected by the zamindars and ultimately the British East India Company.
Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of British India, was more focused on administrative reforms and consolidation of British power rather than directly reducing revenue. His policies were aimed at establishing a more efficient and centralized system of governance, but they did not specifically target the reduction of revenue in the Ijardari Settlement.
Lord Cornwallis, on the other hand, introduced the Permanent Settlement, which fixed the revenue amount to be paid by zamindars. This settlement did not reduce revenue but rather established a permanent revenue structure that was intended to provide stability and predictability in revenue collection. The Permanent Settlement was a significant administrative reform that aimed to secure a steady flow of revenue for the British East India Company.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the Famine in Bengal led to a reduction in revenue in the Ijardari Settlement. The famine caused widespread economic distress, which directly impacted the ability of peasants to pay their taxes, leading to a decrease in the revenue collected by the zamindars and the British East India Company. This event highlights the vulnerability of the revenue system to natural disasters and the broader socio-economic context of the period.