Who introduced the permanent settlement in Bengal?

Correct option is A

The correct option is Lord Charles Cornwallis.
The Permanent Settlement of Bengal was introduced in 1793 by the Governor-General Lord Charles Cornwallis. This agreement permanently fixed the land revenue that the Zamindars (landlords) had to pay to the East India Company.

Information Booster

Lord Charles Cornwallis was the Governor-General of Bengal (1786–1793) when the Permanent Settlement, also known as the Zamindari System, was enacted in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha in 1793. The aim was to create a stable source of revenue for the Company and foster a class of loyal Indian landlords (Zamindars) to invest in agricultural improvement.

Additional Knowledge 

Lord Richard Wellesley: He was Governor-General (1798–1805) and is famous for the Subsidiary Alliance system, which brought many Indian states under British control. He did not introduce the Permanent Settlement.

Warren Hastings: He was the first Governor-General of Bengal (1772–1785) and preceded Cornwallis. He experimented with various revenue farming systems, like the five-yearly and annual settlements, but did not introduce the permanent system.

Sir John Shore: He was a member of the Board of Revenue and later Governor-General (1793–1798). He was the chief architect/proponent of the idea of Permanent Settlement, having debated the merits of the system with Cornwallis. However, it was Cornwallis who officially enacted and introduced it in 1793.