Explain Permanent Settlement.

The Permanent Settlement, also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal or the Zamindari System, was a significant land revenue policy introduced by the British East India Company in 1793 in the Bengal Presidency (present-day West Bengal, Bangladesh, and parts of Bihar and Odisha). Here's a brief overview:

1. Land Revenue System: The Permanent Settlement aimed to establish a fixed and permanent land revenue system in which landowners, known as zamindars, were made responsible for collecting and paying a fixed land revenue amount to the British government.

2. Zamindars: The British recognized certain existing landowners as zamindars and granted them hereditary rights to collect land revenue from peasants in their respective territories. In return, zamindars were expected to pay a fixed revenue amount to the British government, which could not be increased.

3. Implications: The Permanent Settlement had mixed results. While it provided zamindars with a sense of permanence and security in landownership, it often resulted in exploitation of peasants who were subjected to high revenue demands. This system also discouraged investment in land improvement and modern agriculture.

4. Later Reforms: Due to its limitations, the Permanent Settlement was gradually replaced with other revenue systems, such as the Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems, in different parts of India during the 19th century.

The Permanent Settlement left a lasting impact on the agrarian structure of Bengal and influenced subsequent land revenue policies in British India. It is remembered for its role in shaping landlord-peasant relations during the colonial period.