Land Reforms History — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. Community development and rural welfare

Bharat Sevak Samaj was established in 1952 as a non-political, non-governmental organization to mobilize voluntary effort for community development and rural welfare. It was set up by the Planning Commission under Jawaharlal Nehru to supplement government efforts in rural upliftment. The organization worked in areas of literacy, sanitation, land reforms, and village development. It was intended as a mass organization to channelize citizen energy into nation-building.

Correct Answer: B. Intermediaries between state and cultivators

Zamindari abolition laws aimed at eliminating intermediaries (zamindars, jagirdars, inamdars) who stood between the state and the actual cultivators. These intermediaries collected rent from cultivators and paid a portion to the government, keeping the rest as their income without themselves cultivating. Post-independence, states enacted laws to abolish this system and establish direct relationship between cultivators and the state. By the early 1960s, over 20 million acres were transferred to former tenants as owner-cultivators.

Correct Answer: C. 1951

The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act was passed in 1951 and came into force in 1952. It was one of the most comprehensive land reform laws in India, abolishing zamindari across UP and vesting land in the state. Former tenants were given occupancy rights and could purchase their holdings. This act set the precedent for similar legislation in other states and was among the first laws placed in the 9th Schedule.

Correct Answer: B. Limiting maximum land a person can hold and redistributing surplus

Land ceiling laws set a maximum limit on the amount of agricultural land a person or family can own and require surplus land above the ceiling to be acquired by the government for redistribution to the landless. The objective was to reduce concentration of land ownership and provide land to landless laborers and small farmers. The first phase of ceiling legislation was in the late 1950s, and after the 1972 Central guidelines, states revised their laws for stricter implementation. Despite these laws, implementation was weak due to benami transfers and political resistance.

Correct Answer: C. Tenancy reforms

Tenancy reforms were guided by the principle of 'land to the tiller,' aiming to give ownership rights to those who actually cultivated the land. These reforms included security of tenure (protection from eviction), regulation of rent, and conferment of ownership rights on tenants. States like Kerala and West Bengal achieved significant tenancy reforms that transferred land to actual cultivators. The principle recognized that productive efficiency requires the farmer to have a stake in the land.

Correct Answer: A. First Plan (1951–56)

The First Five Year Plan (1951–56) gave highest priority to land reforms as a prerequisite for agricultural development. The plan advocated zamindari abolition, tenancy reforms, and land ceiling laws. The Planning Commission prepared detailed guidelines for states on land reform legislation. Most state zamindari abolition acts were passed during this period, fundamentally transforming the agrarian structure.

Correct Answer: B. Mughal and Maratha land grants to military/civil officers

The Jagir system originated in the Mughal period as a system of granting land revenues to military and civil officers (jagirdars) in lieu of cash salaries. The Maratha empire also maintained a similar system. Jagirdars were not permanent owners but received the right to collect revenue from specific territories as compensation for service. Post-independence, various states like Rajasthan enacted Jagir Abolition Acts in the early 1950s to eliminate this intermediary class.

Correct Answer: B. Religious, charitable, and service purposes

Inam (meaning gift or favor) lands were revenue-free grants made by rulers for religious purposes (temple endowments), charitable activities, and services rendered to the state. Village inamdars received land for services like village watchman, blacksmith, or similar occupations. Post-independence, states like Bombay and Madras enacted Inam Abolition Acts to bring these lands under regular revenue settlement. Former inamdars were given compensation and ryots cultivating inam lands were given occupancy rights.

Correct Answer: B. Maharashtra and Karnataka

The Watan system of hereditary service tenures was prevalent in the Bombay Presidency, particularly in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Watandars received land grants in exchange for performing hereditary village services (kulkarni/village accountant, patil/headman, etc.). The Bombay Hereditary Offices Act 1874 regulated this system. Post-independence, the Bombay Inferior Village Watans Abolition Act 1959 abolished this system and integrated watandars into the regular revenue administration.

Correct Answer: C. Article 31A and 9th Schedule

Article 31A (inserted by First Amendment 1951) protected laws for acquisition of estates and similar property from being challenged under fundamental rights. The 9th Schedule (also inserted by First Amendment) listed specific laws that were immune from judicial review under Article 13. When zamindars challenged UP's zamindari abolition act in the Privy Purse case, the court upheld it partly because of these provisions. Article 31B declared all 9th Schedule laws valid notwithstanding any court judgment.