Correct Option
The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
Land Ceiling refers to the statutory limit on the maximum amount of land that an individual or a family can legally hold. The surplus land exceeding this limit is taken over by the state and redistributed among landless laborers and small farmers to promote equity in the agrarian structure.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. Land ceiling does not refer to fixing a minimum land size for subsidies. Instead, it fixes the maximum size of land holding that a family or individual can own. The objective is to prevent the accumulation of excessive land in a few hands, not to set eligibility criteria for subsidies based on a minimum threshold.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The primary purpose of the land ceiling policy was to reduce the concentration of land ownership. By capping the holding size, the state aimed to reduce inequalities in income and status in rural areas and ensure a more equitable distribution of the vital asset of land.
- Statement 3 is Correct. The implementation of land ceiling laws faced significant hurdles. Big landlords frequently challenged these legislations in courts, exploiting legal loopholes and constitutional provisions (such as the Right to Property before it was amended). This litigation often delayed the acquisition and redistribution of surplus land, allowing time for benami transfers and evasion.
Key Takeaway
Land Ceiling laws impose a maximum cap on land ownership to promote distributive justice and reduce inequality, though their implementation was historically hampered by litigation and political resistance.