With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family holdings and not individual holdings.

(b) The major aim of land reforms was providing agricultural land to all the landless.

(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form of cultivation.

(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions to the ceiling limits.

Answer: (b)        

Explanation:

• Land Ceiling laws were applied to family holdings as well as individual holdings. Hence, Option 1 is NOT correct.
• The major aim of land reforms was to provide agricultural land to all the landless. Hence, Option 2 is correct.
• Commercialization of agriculture, and not land reforms, led to an increase in the cultivation of cash crops. Hence, Option 3 is also NOT correct.
• Certain exemptions in land reforms were permitted to the ceiling limits. Example -Exemptions for Garden Lands, Forest Land, Barren Land, etc. Hence, Option 4 is also not correct.