Revenue Administration in India: A Case Study of Bihar (An Old and Rare Book)

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Land revenue administration has been and will continue to be one of the most Important areas of public administration for a very long time to come. This is mainly because of the dependence of vast majority of the population on land for their livelihood. Land revenue administration does not include only 'levy and collection' of land revenue but it also extends to survey and settlement, land reforms, revenue loans, certificates, stamps, excise, etc.

In the present study, the author has tried his best to present in a clearly analytical manner the pattern of revenue administration obtaining in the country as well as in the state of Bihar.

The structure of revenue administration in Bihar embraces the Karmacharis at the bottom and the Government in the Revenue Department at the top. Its most important administrative levels are those of Circle Officer, District Collector, the Divisional Commissioner and the Board of Revenue at the State head-quarters.

The study of Board of Revenue has remained almost untouched in this state. Thus a detailed study of its evolution, structure, powers and functions is called for to fill In the gap in the study of the revenue administration in the state. The author has made a commendable effort to undertake such a study in this book.

Dr. Gopal Prasad Singh (b. 1941) passed M.A. (Political Science) in 1963 from Patna University. He was awarded Ph.D. Degree from Bhagalpur University in 1983. He has authored a large number of learned papers, which have been published from time to time in prestigious periodicals or presented in various Seminars.

He is currently serving as University Professor of Political Science, Koshi College, Khagaria. He is also life member of Indian Political Science Association, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

Despite tremendous development in the areas of secondary and tertiary sectors of Indian economy, land continues to be the most important source of livelihood for the vast majority of the population. Land revenue administration, there- fore, naturally occupies a very important place in the Indian administrative system. Generally speaking, land revenue administration implies 'levy and collection' of land revenue. This, however, is only one aspect of the extensive area of land revenue administration. Some of its other important aspects include survey and settlement, land reforms, revenue loans, certificates, stamps, excise, etc.

The structure of revenue administration in the State of Bihar includes the Karmacharis at the bottom and the Government in the Revenue Department at the top. Its most important administrative levels are those of the District Collector, the Divisional Commissioner and the Board of Revenue at the State head-quarters. There have been extensive studies in the past on the functions, duties and role of the District Officer in Bihar as also in other States. A large mass of material on the evolution, duties, role and usefulness of the Office of Divisional Commissioner has also been brought out. But the study of the Board of Revenue has remained almost untouched in this State. This institution has only casually been discussed in conferences, seminars and committee meetings. The present descriptive-analytical study is aimed at examining the evolution, structure, powers and functions of Board of Revenue in Bihar.

The study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter deals with the origin and evolution of the institution of Board of Revenue in Bihar in historical and administrative perspective. The chapter presents in detail the different stages through which this institution evolved over a period of about two centuries.

**Contents and Sample Pages**