The correct option is Fragmentation of land holdings making them uneconomical.
Explanation
The 'Right of Inheritance' in India dictates that ancestral property, including agricultural land, is divided among legal heirs upon the death of the owner. This socio-legal practice has significant implications for the structure of land ownership and agricultural efficiency.
- Fragmentation of land holdings making them uneconomical is Correct: As land is passed down through generations, it is subdivided among multiple heirs. This continuous subdivision leads to the fragmentation of land holdings. The resulting plots become progressively smaller, often reaching a size where they are uneconomical to cultivate. Small holdings hinder the application of modern technology, mechanization, and irrigation, thereby reducing overall productivity and increasing the cost of production per unit.
- Increase in average land holding size is Incorrect: The division of land among heirs leads to a decrease, not an increase, in the average size of land holdings.
- Shift from subsistence to commercial farming is Incorrect: Fragmentation and small land sizes generally force farmers to focus on subsistence farming (growing crops for self-consumption) rather than commercial farming, as the marketable surplus from small plots is negligible.
- Decrease in population pressure on agricultural land is Incorrect: The Right of Inheritance does not decrease population pressure on land. Instead, it often results in disguised unemployment, where more individuals (heirs) remain dependent on the same fragmented piece of land.
Key Takeaway: The Right of Inheritance is the primary cause of the subdivision and fragmentation of agricultural land in India, rendering many holdings economically unviable for modern agricultural practices.