Concept:The ryotwari settlement was a British land revenue system that made a direct contract between the state and the individual cultivator (ryot), eliminating middlemen.
Explanation:It was adopted in large parts of southern and western India, such as the Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
Under this system, the revenue was directly collected from the ryot, who was considered the owner of the land.
The tax assessment was valid for a fixed period, usually 30 years, after which it was revised.
No zamindars or other intermediaries were involved; the state dealt directly with the peasants.
Therefore, the ryotwari system actually weakened the former elite (zamindars) and strengthened the peasantry by giving them ownership rights.
Thus, the statement that it strengthened the zamindars and weakened the peasantry is false.
The other three statements are correct: ryotwari was adopted in southern and western India, it was a direct contract between ryot and state, and the tax contract was usually for 30 years.
Answer:Option D is not correct.