Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Land Use Pattern in India:
Land use in India is determined by physical factors such as topography, climate, and soil types, as well as human factors like population density, technological capability, and culture and traditions.
Land resources are used for various purposes: Forests, Land not available for cultivation (barren and waste land, and land put to non-agricultural uses like buildings, roads, factories), Other uncultivated land (permanent pastures, grazing land, land under miscellaneous tree crops, culturable waste land), Fallow lands (current fallow and other than current fallow), and Net sown area (physical extent of land where crops are sown and harvested).
The pattern of net sown area varies greatly across states. It is over 80% in Punjab and Haryana but less than 10% in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Andaman Nicobar Islands. India's relief features include about 43% plains, 30% mountains, and 27% plateau region.
Why Forest Land Has Not Increased Much Since 1960-61:
The land under forests has changed only marginally since 1960-61. Land is a finite resource, and there is competition among various uses. Land is increasingly being put to non-agricultural uses like buildings, roads, and factories due to development needs. Additionally, physical factors such as topography and climate limit where forests can be expanded. The plateau region, which possesses forests, covers only 27% of the area. Growing demands for agriculture, industry, and settlements have constrained the ability to increase forest cover significantly.
Explanation
The answer explains the land use pattern by describing the categories of land use (forests, land not available for cultivation, other uncultivated land, fallow lands, and net sown area) and the factors determining land use (physical and human factors). For why forest land hasn't increased much, the answer draws from the context which states that 'land is an asset of a finite magnitude' and mentions land being put to 'non-agricultural uses' like buildings, roads, and factories. The context also notes that physical factors determine land use and that the plateau region (which possesses forests) covers only 27% of India's area. The textbook includes an activity asking students to compare pie charts to find why forest land has changed marginally, but doesn't provide explicit reasons - the answer infers from the finite nature of land and competing uses mentioned in the context.