Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Running a Rural Area
A district is looked after by several officials. The main ones for land and law are:
| Official | Main work |
|---|---|
| Patwari | Land records |
| Tehsildar | Supervises Patwaris, hears cases |
| Police | Law and order |
| District Collector / Magistrate | Overall district head |
The Patwari (Land Records)
The Patwari (also called Lekhpal or Talati in some states) is the village-level official for land.
Work of the Patwari
- Measures fields and updates the village map.
- Keeps the land records — who owns which land, what crop is grown.
- Collects land revenue for the government.
- Maintains the khasra (field record) and the village map.
The Tehsildar
- The Tehsildar is a senior officer at the tehsil (block) level.
- He supervises the work of all Patwaris in the tehsil.
- He hears land disputes and small cases.
- He issues certificates such as caste, income and domicile certificates.
The Police
- The police maintain law and order in the rural area.
- A complaint is first written down as an FIR (First Information Report) at the police station.
- The Station House Officer (SHO) is in charge of the police station.
- The police investigate crimes and keep the area safe.
The District Collector
- The District Collector (also called District Magistrate) is the top official of the district.
- All district officers, including police and revenue officials, work under the Collector's overall supervision.
Women's Right to Inherited Land
- Earlier, only sons inherited agricultural land; daughters were left out.
- The Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 changed this.
- Now sons and daughters have equal rights to inherit land.
This law shows how government action can bring equality and justice.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Patwari | Village official who keeps land records |
| Khasra | A record of fields and crops |
| Land revenue | Tax on land paid to the government |
| Tehsildar | Senior officer who supervises Patwaris |
| FIR | First Information Report of a complaint |
| SHO | Station House Officer of a police station |
| District Collector | Top official of a district |
| Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 | Law giving daughters equal land rights |
Exam Tips
- Patwari keeps land records, measures fields, updates maps, collects revenue — list 3-4 jobs.
- Tehsildar supervises Patwaris, hears land cases, issues certificates — define the role.
- An FIR is the First Information Report of a complaint at the police station — a common 1-mark term.
- Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 gave daughters equal rights to inherit land — the chapter's key law.
- The District Collector is the overall head of district administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Patwari is a village-level official who keeps the land records, measures fields, updates maps and collects land revenue for the government.