एलफिन्स्टनला जमीन महसुलाच्या संदर्भात महाराष्ट्रात कोणती पद्धत लागू करावयावी होती ?

The correct answer is Option D (Maujewari system).

Key Points:
• Mountstuart Elphinstone's Land Revenue Policy in Maharashtra:
• Mountstuart Elphinstone, appointed Governor of Bombay (1819–1827) after the fall of the Peshwas, initially preferred preserving traditional local village communities.
• He favored the Maujewari system (village-based settlement), where the village as a whole (*mauje*) through its traditional headman (*Patil*) would be responsible for collective revenue assessment and collection.
• Elphinstone sought to avoid sudden social dislocation and wanted to maintain the old Maratha village autonomy intact while reforming revenue procedures.
• However, due to administrative pressures and direct guidance from revenue officials like Chaplin and Pringle, the Bombay Presidency eventually evolved and transitioned fully into the modified Wingate-Goldsmid Rayatwari system.
• As per the official MPSC answer key, Elphinstone's preferred proposal was the Maujewari system.
• Key Takeaway: Elphinstone initially wanted to introduce the Maujewari (village-based) system in Maharashtra to preserve traditional village autonomy.