During the British period, the district administration was a crucial aspect of the colonial governance system in India. The district administration was headed by a District Collector, who was appointed by the British government and was responsible for overseeing the administration of the entire district.
The District
Collector was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue,
and implementing various government policies. The Collector was also
responsible for the supervision of subordinate officials such as Tehsildars,
Deputy Collectors, and Sub-Collectors, who were responsible for various
administrative functions within the district.
Discuss the state and
district administration during British period
One of the
primary functions of the District Collector was revenue collection. The British
introduced a system of revenue collection known as the Zamindari system, which
involved the appointment of intermediaries, called Zamindars, who were
responsible for collecting revenue from the peasants and paying it to the
government. The District Collector had the responsibility to supervise the work
of these intermediaries and to ensure that the revenue was collected
efficiently.
The District
Collector was also responsible for maintaining law and order within the
district. They were responsible for the supervision of the police force and had
the power to call in the military in case of any disturbances. The Collector
also had judicial powers and was responsible for the administration of justice
within the district.
In addition to
revenue collection and law and order, the District Collector was also
responsible for the implementation of various government policies. They were
responsible for the distribution of relief during famines, the implementation
of agricultural policies, and the provision of basic services such as education
and healthcare.
Overall, the
district administration during the British period was characterized by a high
degree of centralization and control by the British officials. While some
institutions and practices introduced during this period continue to influence
the administrative system in India, there were also significant limitations and
negative consequences of this system, including the exploitation of Indian
resources, the suppression of Indian culture and traditions, and the
marginalization of the Indian people from the decision-making process.
During the
British period in India, the administration was primarily divided into two
tiers- the central government and the local government. The central government
was headed by the Governor-General or Viceroy of India and was responsible for
making policies and taking major decisions related to the entire country. On
the other hand, the local government was responsible for managing the
day-to-day affairs of the people in their respective areas.
At the district
level, the administration was headed by a District Collector, who was
responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and implementing
various government policies. The Collector was assisted by a number of
officials, such as Tehsildars, Deputy Collectors, and Sub-Collectors, who were
responsible for various administrative functions.
The British
introduced a system of revenue collection known as the Zamindari system, which
involved the appointment of intermediaries, called Zamindars, who were
responsible for collecting revenue from the peasants and paying it to the
government. The Zamindars were granted certain privileges, such as the right to
collect rent from the peasants and to exercise judicial powers within their
respective areas.
The British
also introduced the system of local self-government, which gave some degree of
autonomy to the local bodies such as the Municipalities and Panchayats.
However, the powers of these bodies were limited, and the ultimate control
remained with the British officials.
The British
period also witnessed the development of modern administrative institutions
such as the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and the police force. The ICS was
responsible for the management of the entire administration, and the police
force was responsible for maintaining law and order. However, these
institutions were mainly dominated by the British, and the Indian officials
were given only subordinate roles.
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Overall, the
British period witnessed the development of a centralized and bureaucratic
administrative system, which was characterized by a high degree of
centralization and control by the British officials. While some institutions
and practices introduced during this period continue to influence the
administrative system in India, there were also significant limitations and
negative consequences of this system, including the exploitation of Indian
resources, the suppression of Indian culture and traditions, and the
marginalization of the Indian people from the decision-making process.