Who Introduced the Zamindari System?
The Zamindari system was formally codified by Lord Cornwallis through the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
| Context | Nature of Zamindar |
|---|---|
| Mughal period | Revenue intermediaries — collected from peasants; NOT permanent landowners |
| British post-1793 | Legally recognized permanent landowners with heritable and transferable rights |
The Zamindari system was abolished after independence through Zamindari Abolition Acts passed by state governments in the early 1950s, per Article 31A of the Constitution.