Impact of Land Reforms on Revenue Collection ...

Impact of Land Reforms on Revenue Collection in Jharkhand

Author Name : Gourav Kumar Agarwal

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of land reforms on revenue collection in Jharkhand, India, focusing on the interplay between policy interventions, systemic challenges, and socio-political dynamics. Through a qualitative analysis of secondary data, including government reports, policy documents, and academic literature, the paper evaluates the efficacy of key reforms such as the Jharkhand Land Reforms Act, 2016 and the JharBhoomi digitization initiative (2016). Findings reveal that post-2020 digitization efforts drove a 12-fold increase in land revenue (₹96.38 crores in 2012–13 to ₹1,621 crores in 2021–22), underscoring the transformative potential of modernized land governance. However, restrictive tenancy laws (Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908; Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, 1949), administrative inefficiencies, unresolved land disputes, and tribal resistance—exemplified by movements like Pathalgadi—have constrained revenue optimization. The study identifies a stark urban-rural divide in digitization outcomes, with rural districts lagging due to incomplete Record of Rights linkages and corruption. Policy recommendations emphasize legal reforms to enable regulated land leasing in tribal areas, universal real-time digitization, blockchain-based registries to curb graft, and grassroots engagement to rebuild tribal trust. By balancing equity and efficiency, Jharkhand can harness its land reforms as a catalyst for equitable growth. This research contributes to broader debates on reconciling fiscal governance with indigenous rights in resource-rich, tribal-majority regions.