Land revenue reforms played a central role in colonial governance because land was the main source of income. Systems such as the Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari altered traditional land relationships. Under reforms introduced during the rule of Lord Cornwallis, land ownership was fixed in the hands of selected groups, creating new elites loyal to colonial rulers. These reforms often increased pressure on cultivators, leading to debt and land loss. Although they improved revenue collection for the state, they weakened village communities and increased economic inequality across colonial societies.