Which of the following state- ments about Permanent Settle- ment are correct ? 1. It conferred proprietary rights to peasants. 2. The Zamindars were recog- nized as the proprietors of land. 3. The government perma- nently fixed the land revenue demand. 4. The Zamindars acted as the middlemen between the peasants and the govern- ment. Select the correct answer using the code given below—

The Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis, recognized Zamindars as the absolute proprietors of the land [3]. This system effectively stripped peasants of their traditional proprietary rights, converting them into tenants or intermediaries under the Zamindars [3]. The government permanently fixed the land revenue demand to ensure a stable income for the East India Company [4]. Under this arrangement, Zamindars acted as middlemen between the state and the cultivators, responsible for collecting rent and paying a fixed portion (10/11ths) to the government while retaining 1/11th for themselves [3]. While the system aimed to encourage agricultural investment by Zamindars, it often led to the exploitation of the peasantry due to high revenue demands and the lack of legal protection for cultivators' rights [1]. Therefore, statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.

Sources

1. [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 10: Land Reforms in India > 1. Zamindari System (Permanent Settlement) > p. 337
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 17: Effects of British Rule > 17.2 Land Tenures: Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari Settlement > p. 266
3. [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 5: Land Reforms > Features: > p. 191
4. [4] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 5: Land Reforms > Lord Cornwallis, Governor General of Bengal (1786 – 1793) and the Permanent Settlement of Revenue Administration: > p. 190