UPSC Mains 2014 · GS III · Q5 · 12.5 marks · 200 words

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 has come into effect from 1st January, 2014. What are the key issues which would get addressed with the Act in place? What implications would it have on industrialization and agriculture in India?

हिन्दी में

भूमि अर्जन, पुनरुद्धार और पुनर्वासन में उचित प्रतिकर और पारदर्शिता का अधिकार अधिनियम, 2013 पहली जनवरी, 2014 से प्रभावी हो गया है। इस अधिनियम के लागू होने से कौन-से महत्त्वपूर्ण मुद्दों का समाधान निकलेगा? भारत में उद्योगीकरण और कृषि पर इसके क्या परिणाम होंगे?

Land ReformsIndustrial Policy and Liberalisation

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What do you understand by Land Pooling? Can it be an alternative to the current Land Acquisition framework employed in India by the government?”

Saksham GoelAIR 27 · CSE 2021 · 138 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Land pooling method refers to a participative consensual self-aggregation of land (citizen initiated or otherwise) and consequent handing over to public authority for development.

Body · points

Diagram
Aggregation of land → Hand over to public authority → Development works and infrastructure ↓ Land handed back to owners Public authority gets share in land or other arrangement

Merits of the method (1) Citizen-initiative possible (2) Consensual decision making (3) Simpler procedure (4) No coercion of property-owner (5) Faster and holistic area-development (6) Minimal disturbance (7) No issues relating to rehabilitation as restoration back to original owners (8) Government gets land for further usage and development

Possible Demerits (1) Possible dispute over compensatory formula. (2) Piece meal and non-strategic i.e. plans of governmental usage post-facto (3) Slow development → till then rehab facilities need to be provided (4) Need

Way Forward

Close · a way forward

The recent DDA measures regarding land pooling are commendable as COMPLEMENTARY and not substitution of current land Acquisition framework. Further, there is a need for proper and quick grievance redressal mechanism.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper III, Q5. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.