Land Reforms: Overview & Related Committees

Introduction

Land reform is a process aimed at restructuring prevailing patterns of land ownership, tenure systems, rent-seeking practices, agricultural wages, and revenue collection methods. Driven by diverse objectives—political, social, and economic—land reform initiatives seek to establish political legitimacy, foster equitable agricultural relations, and enhance economic efficiency on land.

Overview of Land Reforms in India 

Post-Independence Land Reforms in India (1950-1972)

• The Abolition of the Zamindari System: Eliminating the middleman layer that existed between the state and the cultivators. 
• Tenancy Reforms: Place to provide renters ownership, tenure security, and rent control.
• Fixing Ceiling on Landholdings: Preventing land concentration and promoting a more equitable distribution of resources. Land Ceiling laws were applied to family holdings as well as individual holdings depending upon the region/state. [UPSC 2019]
  • Exemptions for categories such as Educational institutions, Charitable trusts, Religious institutions. [UPSC 2019]
• Land Consolidation: Also known as land pooling or land readjustment is a land reform strategy which aims at reorganizing fragmented agricultural landholdings into larger, more manageable units.

Land Reforms in India (1972-85)

• Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP): Launched in 1973;  
  • Aimed to address the specific needs of drought-prone areas, including initiatives focused on barren land management.
• Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP): Launched in 1978: 
  • Focused on integrated rural development, with a component dedicated to land development and watershed management.
• National Rural Employment Programme: Launched in 1980; 
  • Aimed to create rural employment opportunities while addressing land-related issues; 
  • Included initiatives for wasteland development, soil conservation, and afforestation.

Land Reforms in India (1985-2001)

• Revision of Ceiling on Landholdings, 1985
• National Wastelands Development Board (NWDB) 1985: 
  • Aimed to reclaim and utilize wasteland for productive purposes which also includes agriculture.
• Panchayati Raj Act, 1988: 
  • This devolved power and resources to local governments, including Panchayats, with the expectation that they would play a more active role in land management and development.
• National Land Use Policy (1988):
  • Aim:  Optimize land use, Plan land use strategically, Conserve and preserve, Resolve land use conflicts, Promote sustainable land management.

Land reforms in India between 2001 till now

• Urban Land Policy (ULP), 2007: 
  • Objectives: Ensure equitable access to land, Promote efficient and sustainable land use, Curb speculation and stabilize land prices, Promote public-private partnerships, Strengthen urban governance. 
• Land Pooling Policy: It offers a voluntary approach where landowners contribute their land to a common pool in exchange for developed plots and other benefits.

Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Act, 2013

• The Act mandates that landowners receive four times the market value in rural areas and twice the market value in urban areas for acquired land, and 
• It also provides for a solatium (one-time payment) of 100% of the market value in both rural and urban areas.
• Removed the 80% consent clause for private projects, allowing them to proceed with majority consent (51%).
• Exempted certain projects deemed essential for public purposes from the consent requirement.
• The Act mandates the government to provide adequate rehabilitation and resettlement packages to affected people.

The Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016

• It allows landlords to legally lease land for agriculture and related activities with mutual consent.
• Leaseholders are empowered to access institutional loans, insurance, and disaster relief, enabling increased investment in agriculture.
• It supports the automatic resumption of land after the agreed lease period.
• Special Land Tribunal: Within the Civil Court framework has been established to resolve disputes between landlords and leaseholders.

National Land Record Modernization Programme (NLRMP), 2008

• Modernize land records
• Computerized land registration
• Improve land information management
  • Strengthen land administration.
• Digital India Land Records Modernization programme (DILRMP) (2008): Streamline and reduce the scope of land and property disputes.

SVAMITVA Scheme: 

• Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas launched on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24th April 2021
• A scheme for mapping the land parcels in rural inhabited areas using drone technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS); 
• Reformative step towards establishment of clear ownership of property in rural inhabited (Abadi) areas.
• Providing ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners with the issuance of legal ownership cards (Property cards/Title deeds) to the property owners. 
• Comes under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) System/Bhu Aadhaar: 

• Launched in 2008 to digitize India’s land records.
• Aimed at digitizing and standardizing land records across the country; 
• 14-digit unique identification number issued to each plot of land in India.
• Permanent in Nature: Once the ULPIN is generated, it is stamped on the physical land record document held by the owner. 
  • Even if the land is transferred, sub-divided, or undergoes any change, the ULPIN will remain the same for that geographic boundary.

National Land Monetization Corporation: 

• 100% GoI-owned company was incorporated on 03 June 2022.
• NLMC will speed up the closure of loss-making CPSEs and smoothen the strategic disinvestment process.
• Act as an advisory body and support other Government entities and CPSEs in monetizing their non-core assets in an efficient and professional manner
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate the monetisation of government and surplus land holdings of public sector enterprises (PSU).

Conclusion

• Land reforms in India have been pivotal in addressing socio-economic disparities, promoting equitable land distribution, and enhancing agricultural productivity. 
• While significant progress has been made through measures such as the Zamindari Abolition Act and Land Ceiling Acts, challenges remain in fully implementing and sustaining these reforms. 
• Continued efforts towards effective implementation, coupled with innovative policies to address emerging issues, are essential for achieving lasting positive impacts on land ownership, agricultural development, and socio-economic well-being in India.

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