After India became independent, Nehru and his policy advisors embarked on a programme of planned development that focused on agrarian reform as well as industrialisation. The policymakers were responding to the dismal agricultural situation in India at that time. This was marked by low productivity, dependence on imported food grains, and the intense poverty of a large section of the rural population.

Land redistribution was the first step in changing the agricultural sector in rural India. Which of the following can be considered the second step in this direction?

Green revolution

The correct answer is option 1: Green revolution

Land redistribution was part of the broader land reforms, which aimed to change the ownership pattern of land in rural India. Measures like abolition of zamindari, tenancy reforms, and land ceilings all belonged to this same phase.

The second major step in changing the agricultural sector came with the Green Revolution, which shifted focus from ownership and structure to productivity and modernization. It introduced high-yield variety seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanisation.

Thus, while land reforms tried to improve who owns the land, the Green Revolution aimed at how agriculture is practiced and how much is produced, bringing more visible and large-scale change in rural agriculture.