A balancing Act- The Land Acquisition Bill
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Land Acquisition Bill, aimed at updating the 1894 Act, was scheduled for introduction in the Lok Sabha, defining public purpose, setting consent thresholds and a detailed compensation formula.
- Compensation is calculated based on the higher of three values—circle rate, average of the top 50% of sale deeds, and any agreed amount—multiplied by a factor ranging from 1 in urban areas to up to 2 in rural areas, plus the value of fixed assets, and then doubled as solatium.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Key factual points: 80% consent for private company acquisition, 70% for PPPs, and the compensation multiplier (1‑2) based on urban‑rural classification.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Balancing private property rights with public purpose while ensuring a fair, transparent and time‑bound acquisition process.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
According to the proposed Land Acquisition Bill, compensation payable to a landowner is calculated by which of the following methods?
- [A] The higher of circle rate, average of the top 50% of sale deeds, or any agreed amount, multiplied by a factor ranging from 1 (urban) to up to 2 (rural), added to the value of fixed assets, and then the total is doubled as solatium.
- [B] The average of all sale deeds multiplied by a fixed factor of 1.5, plus the market value of fixed assets, without any solatium.
- [C] The circle rate alone multiplied by a factor of 2 irrespective of urban or rural location, plus the value of fixed assets, with no solatium.
- [D] Only the agreed amount, multiplied by a factor of 1 in urban areas and 2 in rural areas, ignoring circle rate and sale deeds, and without solatium.
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
The Bill specifies that compensation is the higher of three values (circle rate, average of top 50% sale deeds, agreed amount), multiplied by a factor of 1 in urban areas up to 2 in rural areas, plus fixed‑asset value, and the sum is doubled as solatium. The other options omit or alter these components.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.