Final answer:
The settlement system where zamindars acted as middlemen for revenue collection was the Permanent Settlement, which was put into place by the British in parts of the Bengal Presidency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of settlement that comprised zamindar as a middleman to collect the land revenue was the Permanent Settlement, also known as Zamindari system. This system came into effect at the end of the 18th century by the British East India Company.
In the Permanent Settlement, the zamindars were recognized as the owners of the land. They were responsible for collecting rents from the peasants or the tenants (also known as ryots). The zamindars would then pay a fixed sum to the colonial government. This system was primarily established in the Bengal Presidency, which included parts of modern-day West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Bihar.
Unlike the mahalwari system, which was a modified version of the revenue collection system introduced in North India, or the ryotwari system where the peasant was recognized as the landowner and had to pay taxes directly to the government, the Permanent Settlement delegated responsibility to the zamindars, making them an integral intermediary.