Q11. Which of the following accurately defines the concept of ‘Land Ceiling’ in the context of Indian agricultural reforms?
Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms: RAS Prelims MCQs
99 RAS Prelims MCQs on agricultural development cover institutional reforms, technology and the Green Revolution. The abolition of intermediaries, tenancy laws, consolidation of holdings, cooperative farming, the 97th Amendment and the Green Revolution’s first phase are asked as facts, sequences and statements, with the explanations linking each reform to its State or year.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 99 questions
Q12. Which of the following represents the most appropriate chronological sequence of major land reform policies as they were conceptually phased and implemented in India post-independence?
Explanation
Post-independence land reforms followed a logical sequence to restructure rural society. The process began with the abolition of intermediaries like Zamindars. This was followed by tenancy reforms to protect tillers. Later, land ceilings were introduced to redistribute surplus holdings. Finally, the consolidation of holdings was emphasized to amalgamate fragmented plots into compact blocks for better efficiency and mechanization.
Q13. Which of the following was not a primary cause for the poor implementation and evasion of land ceiling legislations in India?
Explanation
Several factors hindered the success of land ceiling laws in India. High initial limits and numerous exemptions for orchards or trusts allowed many owners to retain large holdings. Malafide ‘Benami’ transfers to relatives were also common. However, stringent digitalization of land records was not a cause of failure; in fact, such technology was unavailable immediately after India gained independence.
Q14. In the context of land reforms, the term ‘Benami transfer’ primarily refers to which of the following practices?
Explanation
A Benami transfer involves registering property in the name of another person while the real owner retains control and benefit. In land reforms, this practice was widely used by large landowners to bypass ceiling laws. By transferring surplus land to fictitious persons or dependent relatives, they could evade redistribution efforts and maintain their large estates under a different name.
Q15. Consider the following categories of land:
I. Plantations (Tea, Coffee, Rubber)
II. Land held by religious and charitable trusts
III. Land assigned to agricultural cooperatives
IV. Irrigated land producing two crops a year
Which of the above statement(s) regarding land categories generally granted exemptions under the initial Land Ceiling Acts is/are correct?
I. Plantations (Tea, Coffee, Rubber)
II. Land held by religious and charitable trusts
III. Land assigned to agricultural cooperatives
IV. Irrigated land producing two crops a year
Which of the above statement(s) regarding land categories generally granted exemptions under the initial Land Ceiling Acts is/are correct?
Explanation
The initial Land Ceiling Acts provided exemptions for several categories of land to protect specific economic and social interests. These typically included large plantations for tea, coffee, and rubber, as well as lands held by religious or charitable trusts. Additionally, land assigned to agricultural cooperatives was often exempted to encourage collective farming. Irrigated double-cropped land was generally not exempted.
Q16. Which two states in India are most widely recognized for achieving near-total success in the consolidation of agricultural land holdings?
Explanation
While land consolidation was a national goal, its implementation varied significantly across states. Punjab and Haryana are recognized as the most successful in achieving near-total consolidation of agricultural holdings. This success laid the foundation for high agricultural productivity and the effective adoption of Green Revolution technologies, as farmers could manage large, compact blocks of land more efficiently.
Q17. What is the primary operational objective of the consolidation of land holdings in India?
Explanation
Consolidation of land holdings aims to address the problem of fragmentation, where a farmer’s land is scattered across multiple small plots. The primary operational objective is to amalgamate these disparate parcels into a single, compact block. This allows for better management, easier irrigation, and the use of modern machinery, ultimately reducing the cost and effort of farming operations.
Q18. Match the Land Reform Terms in List I with their Meanings in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Land Reform Terms | Meanings |
|---|---|
| A. Chakbandi | i. The process of creating multiple layers of intermediaries between the state and the tiller |
| B. Bhoodan | ii. Consolidation of fragmented land holdings |
| C. Sub-infeudation | iii. Owners living away from the land and extracting rent without participating in cultivation |
| D. Absentee Landlordism | iv. Voluntary donation of land by large owners for the landless |
Explanation
Various terms describe specific aspects of land relations. Chakbandi refers to the consolidation of fragmented plots. Bhoodan was a movement for the voluntary donation of land to the landless. Sub-infeudation describes the creation of layers of intermediaries. Absentee landlordism occurs when owners live far from their land and extract rent without participating in the actual cultivation process.
Q19. Which of the following is the odd one out regarding the direct benefits of consolidation of land holdings?
Explanation
Consolidating land holdings offers several practical advantages, such as reducing time spent moving between scattered plots and facilitating mechanization. It also helps minimize boundary disputes and litigation among neighboring farmers. However, consolidation has no direct or automatic impact on the Minimum Support Price. MSP is a policy decision made by the central government based on nationwide market conditions.
Q20. Consider the following challenges faced during the consolidation of land holdings:
I. Emotional attachment of farmers to their ancestral lands.
II. Wide variations in the quality and fertility of soil across different plots.
III. Lack of updated and accurate land records.
IV. Fear of displacement among small and marginal farmers.
V. Shortage of trained revenue officials to execute the complex exchange process.
Which of the above statement(s) accurately reflecting these challenges is/are correct?
I. Emotional attachment of farmers to their ancestral lands.
II. Wide variations in the quality and fertility of soil across different plots.
III. Lack of updated and accurate land records.
IV. Fear of displacement among small and marginal farmers.
V. Shortage of trained revenue officials to execute the complex exchange process.
Which of the above statement(s) accurately reflecting these challenges is/are correct?
Explanation
Implementing land consolidation faces several hurdles. Farmers often have deep emotional attachments to ancestral lands, making them reluctant to exchange plots. Differences in soil fertility and quality across areas complicate fair exchanges. Furthermore, inaccurate land records and a lack of trained revenue officials hinder the process. Small farmers also fear displacement or receiving inferior land during the complex reorganization.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (d) Fixing a statutory maximum limit on the quantum of agricultural land that an individual or a family can hold. |
| 12 | (b) Abolition of Intermediaries Tenancy Reforms Land Ceilings Consolidation of Holdings |
| 13 | (c) Stringent digitalization of land records immediately after independence preventing manual alterations. |
| 14 | (d) Registering surplus land in the name of fictitious persons or dependent relatives to bypass ceiling laws. |
| 15 | (a) I, II and III only |
| 16 | (b) Punjab and Haryana |
| 17 | (b) Amalgamating fragmented land parcels into a single compact block. |
| 18 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 19 | (c) Automatic increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops grown on consolidated land. |
| 20 | (d) I, II, III, IV and V |
Key facts from Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms
- Agriculture and allied sectors contribute about 18.3 per cent of India’s Gross Value Added.
- Madras was the first State in independent India to legislate for the abolition of the Zamindari system.
- The Rajasthan Tenancy Act, which gave statutory rights to tenants, was passed in 1955.
- Consolidation of holdings, which joins fragmented parcels into a compact block, has been most successful in Punjab and Haryana.
- The 97th Amendment Act, 2011 gave constitutional status to cooperative societies.
- M. S. Swaminathan is the chief architect of the Green Revolution, whose first phase was mainly confined to wheat and rice.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms?
This page has 99 practice MCQs on Agricultural Development: Institutional, Technological Aspects and Reforms (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the objective of consolidation of landholdings?
To amalgamate fragmented parcels of land into a single compact block. It reduces the cost of cultivation, saves time and makes irrigation and mechanisation easier, and it has worked best in Punjab and Haryana.
Which amendment gave constitutional status to cooperative societies?
The 97th Amendment Act of 2011. It made the right to form cooperative societies a fundamental right under Article 19 and added a Directive Principle on promoting them.
Who is the father of the Green Revolution in India?
M. S. Swaminathan is widely regarded as the chief architect of the Green Revolution in India. The first phase, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, was largely limited to wheat and rice in irrigated areas.