Land Acquisition Act 2013
Revenue & Panchayati Raj · भूमि अधिग्रहण अधिनियम 2013
📋Quick Overview
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 (RFCTLARR Act / LARR Act 2013) replaced the colonial-era Land Acquisition Act of 1894 after 120 years. The 2013 Act fundamentally reformed land acquisition by making it people-centric — requiring consent of affected families, mandatory Social Impact Assessment (SIA), higher compensation, and comprehensive Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) provisions. It also protects food security by restricting acquisition of irrigated multi-crop land.
Key compensation: 4x market value in rural areas; 2x market value in urban areas, PLUS solatium of 100% on top of compensation. Unused acquired land: Must be returned to original owner if not used for 5 years.
📖Consent, Compensation & SIA Requirements
| Feature | 1894 Act | LARR Act 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Consent | Not required | 80% consent for private projects; 70% for PPP; no consent for Govt projects |
| Compensation (Rural) | 1x market value | 4x market value |
| Compensation (Urban) | 1x market value | 2x market value |
| Solatium | 15% on top | 100% on top of compensation |
| Social Impact Assessment | Not required | Mandatory before acquisition |
| R&R (Rehabilitation) | Not mandatory | Comprehensive R&R for displaced families — job/house/land |
| Food security protection | None | Multi-crop irrigated land — cannot acquire except as last resort |
| Unused land | No provision | Return to original owner if unused for 5 years |
📝R&R Entitlements and Other Key Points
- •R&R entitlements for displaced families: Land for land (in irrigation/hydel projects), or job with family member, or one-time payment, or annuity for 20 years
- •SIA: Social Impact Assessment must study impact on livelihoods, agriculture, community resources, public infrastructure; independent expert group reviews SIA
- •Urgency clause: Restricted — cannot arbitrarily bypass SIA and consent provisions; applies only in specific emergency situations
- •RFCTLARR: Full short form of the act = Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement
- •Retrospective clause: If land awarded under 1894 Act but possession not taken or award not paid for 5+ years, the case is covered under 2013 Act
- •LARR Act 2013 amendment attempt: 2015 ordinance attempted to ease acquisition for 5 categories (defence, rural infra, industrial corridors, PPP, housing for poor) — lapsed in Parliament