State the objectives and measures of land reforms in India. Discuss how land ceiling policy on landholding can be considered as an effective reform under economic criteria.

GS 3
Economy
2023
10 Marks

Land reforms in post-independence India aimed at correcting the agrarian structure, ensuring social justice, and enhancing agricultural productivity. They were vital for rural equity and inclusive development.

Objectives of Land Reforms in India

  1. Abolition of Intermediaries: To eliminate the zamindari and landlord system and establish a direct relationship between the state and the tiller.

  2. Tenancy Reforms: To regulate rent, provide security of tenure, and confer ownership rights to tenants.

  3. Redistribution of Land: To ensure equitable distribution of surplus land to landless and marginal farmers.

  4. Consolidation of Holdings: To reduce land fragmentation and promote economies of scale in agriculture.

  5. Updating Land Records: To remove ambiguity in ownership and enhance access to credit and welfare schemes.

  6. Promotion of Agricultural Productivity: By empowering cultivators and encouraging investment in land improvement.

Key Measures Undertaken

  • Zamindari Abolition Acts (1950s)
  • Tenancy Reforms: Regulation of rent and eviction laws
  • Land Ceiling Acts (1950s–70s): State-specific laws to limit maximum land a family could own
  • Land Consolidation Programs: Especially successful in Punjab, Haryana
  • Computerisation of Land Records: Under Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

Land Ceiling Policy Effectiveness

The land ceiling policy, which fixed the upper limit of landholding, has significant economic implications beyond its social justice goals:

1. Redistributive Justice & Inclusive Growth

  • Surplus land was redistributed to the landless poor, enhancing productive asset ownership and contributing to rural consumption.
  • Example: In West Bengal, redistribution under Operation Barga improved tenant security and productivity.

2. Optimum Land Use

  • Prevented wasteful underutilisation of large estates and encouraged intensive cultivation of redistributed plots.

3. Reduction in Land Monopolies

  • Broke the concentration of land in a few hands, promoting competitive agriculture and rural entrepreneurship.

4. Labour Absorption

  • Enabled smallholder agriculture that is labour-intensive, generating rural employment.

5. Improved Productivity

  • Studies show small farms are often more efficient due to intensive use of land and family labour.

6. Better Access to Institutional Credit

  • Legal ownership of redistributed land helped beneficiaries access credit, inputs, and government schemes.

7. Foundation for Rural Reforms

  • Created a base for later reforms like MGNREGA, SHGs, and rural livelihoods missions by empowering rural households economically.

Land ceiling policy, despite implementation challenges, played a crucial role in economic empowerment and rural equity. For its full potential, it should be complemented by land record digitisation, support services, and access to credit and inputs to make land a truly productive asset for the poor.

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