Compare the changes of land-use between 1950–51 and 2019–20.
Between 1950–51 and 2019–20, India has undergone major economic changes that have influenced land-use patterns. Five categories have shown an increase: area under forest, area under non-agricultural uses, permanent pasture and grazing land, current fallow lands, and net area sown.
Four categories have registered a decline: barren and wasteland, culturable wasteland, area under tree crops and groves, and fallow other than current fallow lands.
The declining trends can be explained by increasing pressure on land from both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, which brought wastelands and culturable wastelands into use. The decline in land under tree crops and groves resulted from pressure from agricultural land. The increase in net area sown is a recent phenomenon due to the use of culturable wasteland for agricultural purposes.
Explanation
The answer covers all key aspects from the textbook context: the five categories that increased, the four that declined, and the explanations for these changes. It mentions the role of economic changes and pressure on land as driving factors.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify categories that increased (5 categories: forest, non-agricultural uses, permanent pasture, current fallow, net sown area)
Step 2: Identify categories that declined (4 categories: barren/wasteland, culturable wasteland, tree crops/groves, other fallow)
Step 3: Explain reasons - pressure on land from agricultural and non-agricultural sectors caused wastelands to decline; tree crops declined due to agricultural pressure