Question

Elaborate the role of land ceiling as an institutional reform in agricultural sector during the planning period of India.

Hint:

Institutional reforms like land ceiling were vital in dismantling zamindari-like land monopolies and enabling land access for poor farmers.

Answer 1

Land ceiling was an important institutional reform implemented by the Indian government during the planning period to ensure equitable distribution of agricultural land and eliminate feudal ownership structures. Its major objectives and impacts were:
Definition and Purpose: Land ceiling refers to legally fixing the maximum amount of land an individual or family could own. Surplus land above the ceiling limit was to be taken over by the government and redistributed to landless and marginal farmers.
Redistribution for Social Equity: By acquiring and redistributing surplus land, the reform aimed to reduce land concentration in the hands of a few landlords and promote social justice by empowering the rural poor.
Encouraging Efficient Use of Land: Land ceiling prevented hoarding of land and encouraged more intensive and productive use by those actually cultivating it. Owner-cultivators had more incentive to invest in improving productivity.
Mixed Success in Implementation: Although the intent was strong, in practice, loopholes, under-reporting, and political interference limited its effectiveness in many regions.
Despite implementation challenges, land ceiling played a crucial role in initiating structural changes in the agrarian economy during India’s planning era.