Which of the following statements is incorrect on William Bentinck's reforms?

Key Points

• William Bentinck was the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835.
• He is known for significant social reforms including the abolition of Sati in 1829.
• He took steps to eradicate female infanticide and other social evils prevalent in India.
• He introduced a new land revenue system in the North-Western Province, which aimed to improve agricultural productivity and revenue collection.

Additional Information

• Sati:
  • Sati was a funeral practice among some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman immolated herself on her husband's pyre.
  • William Bentinck abolished this practice through the Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829, making it illegal and punishable by the courts.
• Female Infanticide:
  • Female infanticide is the deliberate killing of newborn female children, often practiced due to socio-economic and cultural reasons.
  • Bentinck took measures to curb this practice through legal and administrative actions, promoting awareness and penalties for the offenders.
• New Land Revenue System:
  • Also known as the Ryotwari system, it was introduced in the North-Western Province during Bentinck's tenure.
  • Under this system, the land revenue was collected directly from the farmers (ryots) who were recognized as the owners of the land.
• University Establishment:
  • The first universities in India were established much later, in 1857, in the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras.
  • Hence, the statement regarding the establishment of universities for the first time during Bentinck's tenure is incorrect.