Describethe main features of the Permanent Settlement.
Inorder to get a stable revenue income, most of the East IndiaCompany’s officials believed that investment in land had to beencouraged and agriculture had to be improved. Debates on how thiswas to be done led to the introduction of the Permanent Settlement in1793. Theaim of this settlement was to ensure a regular flow of revenue forthe Company. As per the settlement, rajasand taluqdarswere recognised as zamindars.They were asked to collect rent from the peasants and pay revenue tothe Company. The amount to be paid was fixed permanently and it wasnot to be increased ever in the future. The Company believed that asthe revenue amount was fixed, the zamindarswould benefit by investing in land improvement, which would in turnlead to increased production. If the zamindarsfailed to pay the revenue, which they usually did as the fixedrevenue was very high, they lost their zamindari.