In India, the share of which of the following Land-use category has reported a positive increase from 1950-51 to 2014-15.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Forests
Between 1950-51 and 2014-15, the share of forests rose from 17 to 23.3 per cent of the reporting area. The rise comes from more land being demarcated as forest, not from an actual increase in forest cover.
Barren and unculturable waste land, culturable waste land and fallow other than current fallow all declined.
Note: This question is taken from an earlier edition of the NCERT book (2023-24), which gives the land-use data from 1950-51 to 2014-15. The latest edition (2026-27) gives newer data (up to 2019-20). Both editions are given below for your benefit.
NCERT (2026-27): “Five categories have undergone increases, while four have registered declines. Share of area under forest, area under non-agricultural uses, permanent pasture and grazing land, current fallow lands and net area sown have shown an increase.” “The four categories that have registered a decline are barren and wasteland, culturable wasteland, area under tree crops and groves and fallow other than current fallow lands.”
NCERT (2023-24): “India has undergone major changes within the economy over the past four or five decades, and this has influenced the land-use changes in the country. These changes between 1950–51 and 2014–15 have been shown in Fig. 3.1.” “Four categories have undergone increases, while four have registered declines. Share of area under forest, area under non-agricultural uses, current fallow lands and net area sown have shown an increase.” “The four categories that have registered a decline are barren and wasteland, culturable wasteland, area under pastures and tree crops and fallow lands.”
Fig. 3.1 (NCERT 2023-24): Changes in Shares of Land-use Categories in India: 1950–51 and 2014–15 |
