The Permanent Settlement was introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal under British rule. It aimed to fix land revenue permanently with zamindars as intermediaries. The system had lasting socio-economic impacts on peasants, landlords, and the British administration across Bengal, Bihar, and later parts of India.

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• Introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal
• Fixed land revenue permanently between British and zamindars
• Zamindars got hereditary land rights; could sell or transfer land
• Required to pay fixed revenue to retain land ownership
• Peasants faced exploitation, eviction risks due to unpaid dues
• Zamindars often moved to cities; middlemen dealt with farmers
• Company secured steady income but no profit from rising output
• Tenants received pattas with land details and rent amounts
• Created absentee landlordism, weakened direct farmer relations
• System gave revenue certainty but caused rural inequality