Change and Development in Rural Society
What this domain tests
This domain covers agrarian structure and rural development: land reforms, the Green Revolution, rural credit, employment schemes and the changing caste-class order. Expect questions that evaluate development, not just describe it.
Core concepts
- Agrarian structure: landownership, tenancy and labour relations; colonial systems included zamindari, ryotwari and mahalwari.
- Land reforms: abolition of intermediaries, tenancy regulation and land ceilings; implementation varied widely.
- Green Revolution: high-yielding seeds, irrigation, fertiliser and credit raised wheat and rice output, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
- Rural credit: institutional banks, cooperatives and moneylenders; debt can trap small farmers.
- MGNREGA (2005): guarantees wage employment and can strengthen rural bargaining power.
- Non-farm rural work: rural livelihoods are increasingly diversified.
Worked example
The Green Revolution raised wheat output in Punjab but widened regional and class inequalities. Reasoning: large farmers with irrigation and credit adopted the package first; labourers gained employment but not land. Output growth is therefore not the same as equitable development. A good answer separates production gains from distributional outcomes.
Traps that cost marks
Do not say land ceilings were fully implemented. Do not treat the Green Revolution as benefiting all crops and regions equally. Do not equate rural with agricultural only. Avoid calling MGNREGA a poverty removal programme; it is an employment guarantee.