Correct Option (B)
The major aim ofland reformsin independent India was to achievesocial justiceand reduceagrarian inequalitiesby providing agricultural land to the landless cultivators. This objective was central to various land reform measures, including theabolition of intermediaries,tenancy reforms, and theimposition of land ceilings. The redistribution of land to the landless and small farmers was considered crucial for their economic upliftment and for increasing agricultural productivity.
Incorrect Options
Option (A): Initially, many land ceiling laws were framed with individual holdings as the unit, rather than family holdings. This allowed landowners to circumvent the law by transferring land to different family members or creating fictitious landholders. Later, some states amended their laws to consider family as the unit for land ceilings to prevent such evasions.
Option (C): Land reforms primarily focused on equitable land distribution, enhancing food security, and increasing the production of food grains to achieve self-sufficiency. They did not directly lead to or promote the cultivation of cash crops as a predominant form. India's agricultural economy remained largely focused on food grain production for a considerable period after independence.
Option (D): Land ceiling laws did permit several exemptions. These typically included specialized categories of land such as tea, coffee, and rubber plantations, orchards, land held by religious or charitable institutions, and land used for specific industrial or public purposes. These exemptions often reduced the amount of surplus land available for redistribution.