when was land reforms introduced in india

Full Answer

What were the main objectives of land reform in India?

The main objectives of the land reform in India are: -Redistribution of lands across the society so that the lands would not be owned only by few people. Zamindari Abolition Act, 1950 was one of the major agrarian reforms by the government of India after independence in 1947.

Why was agrarian reform introduced in India?

To restructure the agrarian relations in order to achieve an egalitarian social structure. To realize the age-old goal of Land to the tiller. The farmers did not have ownership of the Lands in which they used during the British Raj.

Which state initiated/mediated land reforms in India?

Since its independence in 1947, there has been voluntary and state initiated/mediated land reforms in several states with dual objective of efficient use of land and ensuring social justice. The most notable and successful example of land reforms are in the states of West Bengal and Kerala.

What is land reforms?

Or, those lands which are redistributed by the government from landholders to landless people for agriculture or special purpose is known as Land Reform . Land distribution has been part of India's state policy from the very beginning.

When did land reform start in India?

Soon United Front came into power in West Bengal on 1967 the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Hare Krishna Konar and Benoy Choudhury started the India's first land reform on 1967 this was inacted upto the united front loss its power on 1971 and after 6 years in 1977, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI ...

Who introduced land reforms in India?

Under the chairmanship of J. C. Kumarappan, a committee was formed to investigate the land issue. The Kumarappa Committee recommended broad agrarian reforms in its report. The Land Reforms of Independent India consisted of four elements: The Abolition of the Intermediaries.

When was land reform act passed?

LanguageAct ID:196210Enactment Date:1962-03-05Act Year:1962Short Title:The KARNATAKA LAND REFORMS ACT, 1961Long Title:An Act to enact a uniform law relating to land reforms in the State of Karnataka7 more rows

What is land reform Act of 1955?

Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955) -- Created the Land Tenure Administration (LTA) which was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of large tenanted rice and corn lands over 200 hectares for individuals and 600 hectares for corporations.

Why were the land reforms introduced?

After the British left, India had to undo a lot of damage they had done to our economy and society. One such system of the British Raj that independent India had to correct was the zamindari system. To promote equity the government introduced land reforms.

What are the two main land reforms undertaken in India?

What are the main land reforms undertaken in India? Major Land reform programmes in India includes: Abolition of Intermediaries, Tenancy reforms, consolidation of holdings and determination of holdings per family and to distribute surplus land among landless peoples.

In which states were land reforms successful?

Land-reforms were successful in Kerala and West Bengal because these states had government committed to the policy of the land to the tillers.

Is land reform successful in India?

Successful legislation for redistribution of land with ceilings on private land property happened only in a few states. The most notable and successful land reforms happened in states of Kerala and West Bengal (Operation Barga).

Why did land reforms fail in India?

There are many reasons for the failure of land reforms in India which include the lack of financial support and integrated approach, improper implementation, lack of political will, legal hurdles, and more.

Who ordered land reform act in 1954?

President Ramón MagsaysayPresident Ramón Magsaysay enacted the following laws as part of his Agrarian Reform Program: Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954 – Abolished the LASEDECO and established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and landless farmers.

What was the Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963?

3844, was an advancement of land reform in the Philippines that was enacted in 1963 under President Diosdado Macapagal. It abolished tenancy and established a leasehold system in which farmers paid fixed rentals to landlords, rather than a percentage of harvest.

What are the main objectives of land reforms?

Objectives of Land ReformsRestructuring of agrarian relations to achieve an egalitarian structure.Elimination of exploitation in land relations.Actualization of the goal of “land to the tiller”Improvement of socio-economic conditions of the rural poor by widening their land base.More items...

Who is known as the father of the green revolution in India?

In the late 1960s, M.S. Swaminathan, a plant geneticist, helped design and lead the Green Revolution, a huge development effort that in just a few years brought food self-sufficiency to India, which had suffered from deadly famines for decades.

In which state land reform was most successful?

Land-reforms were successful in Kerala and West Bengal because these states had government committed to the policy of the land to the tillers.

Which state in India first abolished the land tax?

Timeline of Zamindari Abolition by StatesEraStates that abolished Zamindari1951Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam1952Orissa, Punjab, Swarashtra and Rajasthan1953Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal1954West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi1 more row•Oct 30, 2013

What is land reforms in India UPSC?

Land reform is the major step of government to assist people living under adverse conditions. It is basically redistribution of land from those who have excess of land to those who do not possess with the objective of increasing the income and bargaining power of the rural poor.

Why did the land reforms happen?

Due to a lot of disparities between land ownership, the reform was enacted. The main motive was to provide land to the landless laborers and workers. Under the second five year plan, this provision of providing ceilings to landholdings was given. The certain limit was set and people should not own lands more than that limit. This extra land would be acquired by the state and then redistributed among landless peasants and small farmers. After 1972 some changes were also made. Now the term ‘family’ was entitled to land rather than a landholder. This led to the formation of more nuclear families as a result. In September 2001, a total of nearly 74 lakh acres declared as surplus. Out of it, approximately 54 lakh acres of land was distributed by the state. This ceiling reform received many criticisms. People started manipulating land records and land distribution among family, friends, trusts, etc. was started. Another loophole was that much less than the expected area was declared as surplus. Moreover, the land that people voluntarily giving up was mostly unproductive and barren. Poor people were not able to use it. Big landlords got no effect and they continued with their whole landholdings which were a major drawback of this ceiling law.

What are some recent land reforms?

With time our country is moving towards various recent land reforms. These include the digitization of land records, the creation of land banks, land pooling, etc.

What was the abolition of Zamindari?

During 1950 – 55, the scenario for the abolition of various revenue systems was going on. The abolition of Zamindari and other intermediary systems was proposed under this reform. There was always a person or a group of persons between the actual cultivator and the State to regulate the revenue generation. This practice was leading to the exploitation of the peasants and workers. After this measure, nearly 2.5 crore farmers got benefitted. They came in direct interaction with the state. Moreover, 61 hectares of land were distributed to the landless farmers of that time. Various forests and wasteland also came under state control. Though a small portion of people availed advantages and still a large section of society was facing exploitation. The poor tenants were still out of the game and facing problems. The right of ownership was not given to the actual cultivators but the statutory tenant and occupancy tenants. This was again a chain related to the practice of the intermediary system. There was no limitation that how much land they can own which is again a problem causing discrimination. No proper definition was given to the term ‘personal landholdings’. Fortunately, the abolition of the Zamindari system was a blessing that provided a balance of power.

What were the failures of the Tenancy Reforms?

It was fixed somewhere between one – fifth to one – a fourth of the land produce. But land rents were not similar in every state. This was one of the failures of the tenancy reforms. There was continuous ejectment of laborers, sharecroppers, and workers from the land due to varied rent provisions. The legislation made under tenancy reforms favored the working class but still, exploitation was prevailing. Expect in a situation when landlords wanted to continue with their cultivation, no worker could be evicted. Even in this exception also it was compulsory to leave an area for the tenant. By 2000, only 1.25 crore got benefits and received ownership rights. We can conclude that this reform was very limited. There was a problem in the identification of sub-tenants. The tenancy laws were violated continuously and there was no security provided to the tenants. Kerala and West Bengal performed very well comparatively due to the communist government at that time.

How many hectares of land were distributed to the landless farmers of that time?

They came in direct interaction with the state. Moreover, 61 hectares of land were distributed to the landless farmers of that time. Various forests and wasteland also came under state control. Though a small portion of people availed advantages and still a large section of society was facing exploitation.

How did land reforms improve productivity?

Land reform measures were able to increase productivity manifolds as compared to previous situations. The agrarian sector started flourishing. Many new costless methods were discovered to improve agricultural productivity. But ownership was not successfully transferred to the tillers. So the latest reforms were very incomplete. The objective of social justice has also been achieved considerably. The abolition of intermediaries and provisions like conferred ownership rights, regulation of rents were very basic steps towards achieving social justice. The process was very slow and undesirable.

Why did farmers suffer a lot in the pre-independence era?

In the pre-independence era, tenants, peasants, and small farmers suffered a lot due to the revenue systems of Mahalwari, Zamindari, ryotwari. One of the major reasons was the unequal distribution of land. Landholdings were concentrated in few hands. The majority of farmers were being exploited. The struggle of class between the bourgeoisie and ...

How did land reforms affect India?

Impact of Land Reform in India 1 Due to introduction land reforms, the power of Zamindars and Jagirdars turned into inexistent. 2 The elimination of intermediaries results in stopped exploitation 3 The new peasants get a scope for innovation in land reforms which results hiking up revenue to the state governments. 4 The ex-jagirdars and ex-Zamindars have indulged in other activities which in turn offering the benefits to National growth. 5 Transfer to land to peasants by taking from intermediaries results in declination in disparities.

What were the objectives of the land reforms in India?

The land reforms were implemented due to the following intentions: To indulge in the reallocation of land thereby inequalities in landowners can minimise. To eradicate poverty in rural areas. To ensure land ceiling and allocate surplus land among the small and marginal farmers.

Why did the Indian government reallocate land?

Thus, the Indian government has taken worthwhile steps to reallocation the excess land to those having no source of income. The intention behind it has been to help the weaker or poorer society of India.

What was the land program before independence?

Only peasants (Pre-industrial agricultural farmers or labourer) continued to grab customary rights over the land they occupied and never get evicted unless they became unable to pay the fixed amount of land revenue to the state. At that time, the task of assembling revenue was done by agents known as Zamindars.

What is land reform?

In brief, land reform is a process of reallocating of land by dragging some portion of the rich people’s land to poor people. This policy includes regulation of ownership, sales, leasing, operation, and inheritance of land. In India, due to the massive number of the population below the poverty line, this political and financial decision for ...

What was the practice of the distribution of land in an unequal manner in India?

The landowners had been using their power in a way to keep the poor persons away from getting a portion of land. Since independence, there has been a rule in which landless and poor people take a part of the land.

What was the name of the land settlement in India before the colonial rule?

Before colonial rule, the entire land used by a community in India, but at the time of the British Raj, this rule had been changed. In 1793, in the states like Bihar, Bengal and Orissa rule named as Permanent Land Settlement had introduced by Lord Cornwallis. In this rule, the tax farmers appointed by the British rulers were considered ...

Pre Independence

Under the British Raj, the farmers did not have the ownership of the lands they cultivated, the landlordship of the land lied with the Zamindars, Jagirdars etc.

Post Independence

A committee, under the Chairmanship of J. C. Kumarappan was appointed to look into the problem of land. The Kumarappa Committee's report recommended comprehensive agrarian reform measures.

Abolition of the Intermediaries

Abolition of the zamindari system: The first important legislation was the abolition of the zamindari system, which removed the layer of intermediaries who stood between the cultivators and the state.

Tenancy Reforms

The rent paid by the tenants during the pre-independence period was exorbitant; between 35% and 75% of gross produce throughout India.

Ceilings on Landholdings

The third major category of land reform laws were the Land Ceiling Acts. In simpler terms, the ceilings on landholdings referred to legally stipulating the maximum size beyond which no individual farmer or farm household could hold any land. The imposition of such a ceiling was to deter the concentration of land in the hands of a few.

Consolidation of Landholdings

The growing population and less work opportunities in non- agricultural sectors, increased pressure on the land, leading to an increasing trend of fragmentation of the landholdings.

Way Forward

It has now been argued by the NITI Aayog and some sections of industry that land leasing should be adopted on a large scale to enable landholders with unviable holdings to lease out land for investment, thereby enabling greater income and employment generation in rural areas.

Why did India implement land reforms?

Land reforms are mainly introduced to provide social and economic equality in society which did not exist in the pre – independence era. Land ownership pattern existed in the agrarian culture is cruel and the most of the real cultivators are there, lived in poverty. This land reforms that took place in and after India’s independence is much needed to provide the basic human rights equity. Apart from discussing the success and failure of the land reforms, it was actually a much needed change in the agrarian culture and it made a change than being in a worst condition of poverty and being a landless cultivator.

Why is land reform important in India?

After India got independence, it adopted a socialist principles like equality in all spheres of social, economic, political was envisional. These land reforms are the essential steps towards social economic equality because the land is the fundamental rights and asset needed for the healthy development of an individual. As per the Indian constitution, the land reforms come under the ‘state subjects’ and hence, the responsibility of bringing up the regulations for effecting the land reforms lies with each state. [2]

What is the purpose of land reform?

The term land reform comprises regulations for ownership, operations, leasing, sales and inheritance of land. India as an agricultural economy, with a great scarcity and an unequal distribution of land with a large mass of rural population below the poverty line it could be the greater struggle for growth culture. And it is very important to redistribute agricultural lands in favour of less privileged class in general and cultivating class in more particular. In the form of economic point of view, the main aim of land reform is equity. The key aim is to ensure access to some minimum amount of land to the people who are in the line of poverty . Land reform is said to be the change in the system of land ownership especially when it involves giving the land to the people who actually farm it. [1]

What is tenancy reform?

Tenancy reforms aim to the regulation of rent, provide security of tenure and confer ownership to tenants. The tenancy reforms laws provide the provision for registration of tenants or giving ownership rights to the former tenants to bring them directly under the state.

What are the main objectives of land reform in India?

The main objectives of the land reform in India are: -Redistribution of lands across the society so that the lands would not be owned only by few people. -Abolition of intermediaries. -Tenancy reforms. -Land ceiling to disburse surplus land amongst small and marginal farmers. -Removal of rural poverty.

What was the practice of holding lands in an unequal manner from historic times?

There was a practice of holding lands in an highly unequal manner from historic times and it is always used as a source of social power in the society. The land ownership and patterns were in a different form in each rule. i.e starting from Mughals ,and British rule, to till India got independence.

What was the basis of all economic activity in India?

Pre – Independence Era. In any country, the basis of all economic activity is land and it’s resources. If we look at the history of India, there are many instances of considering the land as a private property by the individuals who had complete control over it.

Why did India have land reforms?

India was anyways struggling with food self-sufficiency. These land reforms were a cost-free method to increase grain and agricultural output from farms. And once the farmer is self-sufficient he will sell the market surplus and help the economy.

How did land reforms help the agricultural sector?

They both cooperated to boost the agricultural sector of our economy. And land reforms fulfilled one of the major goals of the five-year plan – Equity. It provided social justice to the crores of farmers across the country. It made sure the farmers benefitted from their own labour and promoted equality of wealth.

How did land reforms help the farmers?

These land reforms also helped in establishing a relationship between the farmers and the government. During the British rule these farmers were heavily exploited and hence they became disenfranchised. These reforms opened a dialogue between the government and the farmers. They both cooperated to boost the agricultural sector of our economy.

What is the purpose of land reforms?

The land reforms would also prevent any exploitation of the tenant farmers by the hands of the landlords. And finally to motivate these farmers and implement practices to increase agricultural output.

What was the system of the British Raj that India had to correct?

One such system of the British Raj that independent India had to correct was the zamindari system. To promote equity the government introduced land reforms. Let us see how this was implemented.

How many tenants became owners of their own land?

By the abolition of intermediaries of all types, nearly 2 crore tenants became owners of their own lands. The tenure laws were updated and the land reforms were finally showing some positive results.

What are the advantages of land reforms?

Another major advantage of such land reforms is that they can increase the agricultural output of the country. This is done without any major influx of capital by the state.

What is the objective of land reform in India?

The objective of land reform in India is to change the ownership system of land so that small farmers can also have some sort of land so that they can also make some money for their livelihood . Land reforms in India are nothing but taking the ownership of land from rich landlords and giving it back to the poor farmers.

What is the purpose of land reforms?

Land reforms create an internal demand for industrial goods. Internal demand means the demand within the country. Because when farmers start earning, they will spend more on purchasing better equipment so their productivity will increase.

Why are land reforms important?

First, it gives security to the landless peasants and second, it helps in the destruction of the oppressive relationship between Landlords and Peasants.

How many stages are there in land reform?

The process of land reforms includes four major stages. (The actual implementation of these legislations and their impact on the agrarian structure is, however, a different story. Most of these legislations had loopholes that allowed the landlords to tamper with the rules to escape legislations.)

Why is the average landholding in India so small?

If the governemnt actually wants to justify ceiling the they should make peasants and tenant as the owner of the land. Due to inheritance laws , the average size of landholdings in India is very small.

What is the law making procedure in India?

In India the law making procedure in lengthey and time taking. This allows the landowners to make necessary adjustments to be able to evade various laws and provisions of reform legislation. This enabled the landowners to make a necessary adjustment so as to be able to evade various provisions of land reform legislation.

Which intermediaries dominated the agricultural sector in India by the time the country attained independence?

Intermediaries like Zamindars, Talukdars and Jagirda had dominated the agricultural sector in India by the time the country attained independence.

What were the main land reforms in India after independence?

Land Reforms in India after Independence: Purposes and Features. Land reforms programmes in India includes: Abolition of Intermediaries, Tenancy reforms, consolidation of holdings and determination of holdings per family and to distribute surplus land among landless peoples.

What is the second category of land reform?

The second category of land reform acts is attempts to abolish intermediaries. These intermediaries who worked under feudal lords (Zamandari) to collect rent for the British were reputed to allow a larger share of the surplus from the land to be extracted from tenants.

What are the four main categories of land reform?

We classify land reform acts into four main categories according to their main purpose. The first category is acts related to tenancy reform . These include attempts to regulate tenancy contracts both via registration and stipulation of contractual terms, such as shares in share tenancy contracts, as well as attempts to abolish tenancy ...

What was the Indian Constitution in 1949?

Under the 1949 Indian constitution, states were granted the powers to enact (and implement) land reforms. This autonomy ensures that there has been significant variation across states and time in terms of the number and types of land reforms that have been enacted.

When was equal distribution of land enacted?

Equal distribution of land was therefore an area of focus of Independent India's government. Laws for land ceiling were enacted in various states during 50s & 60s which were modified on the directives of central government in 1972. Under the 1949 Indian constitution, states were granted the powers to enact (and implement) land reforms.

Is land consolidation sporadic?

Land consolidation legislation was enacted less than the other reforms and, owing partly to the sparseness of land records, implementation has been considered to be both sporadic and patchy only affecting a few states in any significant way.

What were the land reforms of India?

Land Reforms. India under the British Raj had witnessed a lot of such atrocious regulations that exploited the poor and helpless in many aspects . Among them, land ownership contributed significantly to preventing socio-economic growth of the backward population. The government of independent India came up with acts and laws to establish equal ...

How will land reforms affect India?

With effective implementation of land reforms, the government expected to open up more employment opportunities in rural India, leading to a reduction in poverty. This, in turn, would lead to increased agricultural production, directly fuelling the country’s economic growth.

Why Were the Land Reforms Introduced?

Almost all agricultural lands of India before independence were owned by intermediaries, like jagirdars and zamindars, among others, and not by the farmers who worked in these lands to produce crops . These farmers naturally suffered from exploitation when the landowners paid no heed in agricultural requirements and were solely concerned about the rent they collected from these labourers.

What was the first step taken by the Indian government under land reforms post independence?

The first step taken by the Indian government under land reforms post-independence was passing the Zamindari Abolition Act. The primary reason of a backward agrarian economy was the presence of intermediate entities like, jagirdars and zamindar who primarily focussed on collecting sky-rocketing rents catering to their personal benefits, without paying attention to the disposition of farms and farmers. Abolition of such intermediaries not only improved conditions of farmers by establishing their direct connection with the government but also improved agricultural production.

What are the benefits of land reform?

These reforms secure ownership of land by cultivators. Farmers and labourers are ensured complete payment for their works and are saved from exploitation.

Why did the Indian government put a limit on the rent?

Indian government implemented these regulations to protect farmers and labourers from exploitation by placing a maximum limit on the rent that could be charged for land.

What prevented the timely implementation of mentioned land reforms?

A variety of political complications prevented the timely implementation of mentioned land reforms, which enabled tenants to devise tricks to avoid these policies. Specified terms of these reforms freed tenants from its obligations if their farming land was being used for cultivation for domestic needs.

Existence of Land Reforms & Land Distribution

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History of Land Reforms in India

Objectives of The Land Reforms in India

Tenancy Systems of Land

Impact of Land Reform in India

Pre Independence

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Post Independence

Abolition of The Intermediaries

Tenancy Reforms

Ceilings on Landholdings

Consolidation of Landholdings

Way Forward

Conclusion

Introduction

• Land reforms can also be said to be redistribution of lands by the government from landlords to landless people for agriculture or for any other special purpose. It’s mainly for distributing lands from rich to poor people. The term land reform comprises regulations for ownership, operations, leasing, sales and inheritance of land. India as an agric...

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Pre – Independence Era

Objectives of Land Reforms

Post Independence Land Reforms

Conclusion