The Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis (Governor-General of Bengal) in 1793 through the Permanent Settlement Act (Bengal Regulation I of 1793).
Zamindars recognized as permanent owners of land in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa
Revenue owed to the British government was fixed permanently never to increase
Zamindars collected rent from peasants and paid a fixed amount to the government
If a zamindar failed to pay on the fixed date, their land was auctioned (the "Sunset Law")
Applied to approximately one-third of British India
Benefited zamindars but impoverished peasants and led to absentee landlordism