What Role Have Land Reforms Played in Shaping India's Property Rights?

Land of a Billion

In our last few episodes, we have dived deep into various issues that concern property rights - from discussing the extent and impact of weak property rights on slum dwellers in Mumbai, Scheduled Tribes across India and tenant farmers among others to attempting to understand the various solutions that we could potentially employ to solve some of these issues. However, an important aspect that remains to be covered, especially when we talk about property rights in India is land reforms. From the independence era till today, our country has witnessed various phases of land reforms. A look back on the history of land reforms is critical in understanding the evolution of our country’s thinking and approach when it comes to property rights. What kind of challenges do we face when it comes to land governance in India? How do these challenges affect agricultural productivity or housing opportunities? Could markets work for land the way they do for labor and capital? What impact might this have on India’s economic trajectory?
In this episode of the ‘Land of a Billion’ podcast, we speak with former IAS officer, Dr. KP Krishnan, who is currently the IEPF Chair Professor in Regulatory Economics at NCAER and the Steering Committee Chair at the Property Rights Research Consortium. A former civil servant, Dr. Krishnan has previously served as the Union Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Special & Additional Secretary, Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development among other positions. We talk about the land reforms that India has witnessed over the past few decades and explore their impact on the country’s economy.
Tune in to know more!
Host: Abhishek Shah
Guest: Dr. KP Krishnan, IEPF Chair Professor in Regulatory Economics at NCAER and the Steering Committee Chair at the Property Rights Research Consortium.
Music: Big Bang Fuzz