Question

Write any two features of Permanent settlement in Bengal.

Hint:

The Permanent Settlement in Bengal fixed the land revenue permanently and gave zamindars hereditary rights over the land, which had lasting economic and social impacts.

Answer 1

The Permanent Settlement of Bengal was a land revenue system introduced by the British in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. It was a major reform that had a significant impact on the revenue collection and agricultural system of Bengal. Below are two key features of the Permanent Settlement: Step 1: Fixed Revenue Payment.
Under the Permanent Settlement, the land revenue was fixed permanently and was to be paid by the zamindars (landowners) to the British government. The zamindars were responsible for collecting taxes from the peasants and paying the fixed amount to the British. This system aimed to create a stable and predictable revenue collection process for the British, but it often burdened the peasants with high taxes.
Step 2: Hereditary Land Ownership.
The Permanent Settlement system also gave zamindars hereditary rights over the land. This meant that the zamindars could transfer, sell, or bequeath the land, which turned land ownership into a form of private property. This created a class of powerful landowners who had little incentive to improve the land as the taxes were fixed and not based on land productivity.