Identify the correct statements about landuse changes in India between 1950-51 to 2014-15.

(A) The rate of increase is the highest in case of area under non-agricultural uses.
(B) The area under net sown category has recorded a sharp decline.
(C) The barren and culturable waste land category registered a decline.
(D) The share of area under forests has declined due to rapid deforestation.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A) and (C) only

The correct answer is Option (1) → (A) and (C) only

(A) The rate of increase is the highest in case of area under non-agricultural uses. Correct. This category has shown a significant increase due to urbanization, industrial growth, and infrastructure development.
(B) The area under net sown category has recorded a sharp decline. Incorrect.  There has been an increase. The increase in net area sown is a recent phenomenon due to use of culturable waste land for agricultural pupose. Before which it was registering a slow decrease. There are indications that most of the decline had occurred due to the increases in area under nonagricultural use.
(C) The barren and culturable waste land category registered a decline. Correct. As the pressure on land increased, both from the agricultural and nonagricultural sectors, the wastelands and culturable wastelands have witnessed decline over time.
(D) The share of area under forests has declined due to rapid deforestation. Incorrect. The area under forests has actually increased, mainly due to afforestation programmes and changes in classification, even if actual forest cover may still be debated.