The Ryotwari system of land revenue in India was first experimentally introduced by which of the following officials?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the origin of the Ryotwari system of land revenue in India. The Ryotwari system dealt directly with individual cultivators (ryots) rather than intermediaries like zamindars. It was first tried on a limited scale before being extended more widely in the Madras Presidency. Knowing who initiated this experiment helps you track how British land revenue systems evolved and how they affected peasants during colonial rule.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about the first experimental introduction of the Ryotwari system.
- Options include Henry Dundas, Captain Alexander Read, David Ricardo and Mountstuart Elphinstone.
- It is assumed that you are familiar with basic features of the Ryotwari system and the key officials who worked in the Madras region in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, the Ryotwari system was first introduced in parts of the Baramahal region of the Madras Presidency by Captain Alexander Read (often spelled Read). Later, Sir Thomas Munro expanded and formalized this system, and it became the dominant form of land revenue settlement in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies. Henry Dundas was a British politician, not the field official who began the experiment. David Ricardo was a famous economist whose theories influenced policies, but he did not implement land settlements in India. Mountstuart Elphinstone was associated with administration in western India, particularly Bombay, after the initial experiments.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the idea of directly settling land revenue with cultivators (ryots) was tested first in the late 18th century in parts of the Madras Presidency. Step 2: Captain Alexander Read is historically credited with initiating these experiments in the Baramahal and adjacent areas. Step 3: Sir Thomas Munro later extended this Ryotwari system more widely, eventually making it the standard system for Madras, but he was building upon Read's earlier experiment. Step 4: Since the question explicitly mentions the first experimental introduction, the correct answer must be Captain Alexander Read, making option B correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
A cross-check is to remember the association: Permanent Settlement with Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Ryotwari with Alexander Read and Thomas Munro in Madras, and Mahalwari with Holt Mackenzie and others in North India. David Ricardo's economic ideas influenced thinking about rent and agriculture but were not tied to a specific Indian settlement. Elphinstone came later in Bombay's history. Connecting each name to its correct region and policy confirms that Captain Alexander Read was the pioneer of the Ryotwari experiment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Henry Dundas, refers to a British political figure who did not personally introduce the Ryotwari system in the field. Option C, David Ricardo, is a classical economist whose writings on rent were important but who never implemented land settlements in India. Option D, Mountstuart Elphinstone, is linked to administration in Bombay but came into prominence after the Ryotwari system had already been initiated in Madras. Therefore, none of these options matches the role of the first experimenter in the Ryotwari system.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to attribute the introduction of the Ryotwari system solely to Sir Thomas Munro because he popularized and expanded it. While Munro is associated with the full-fledged adoption of the system, the question here specifically focuses on the initial experiment. Another pitfall is confusing names of British administrators who worked in different regions and at different times. Creating a simple mental map linking each settlement type with a few key names helps prevent such confusion.

Final Answer:
The Ryotwari system of land revenue was first experimentally introduced by Captain Alexander Read, whose work in the Madras Presidency laid the foundation for later expansion under Sir Thomas Munro.