Shanmugam Ias Academy

KISAN DIWAS

Why in News?

As many as 13 farmers known for innovative farming were felicitated to mark Kisan Diwas or National Farmers Day on 23rd December, 2022.

The Kisan Diwas is observed across the country to celebrate the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India.

What are the Key Facts about Chaudhary Charan Singh?

He was born in 1902 at Noorpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh and was the Prime Minister of India from 28th July 1979 to 14th January 1980.
Being a proponent of rural and agricultural development, he made continuous efforts for keeping agriculture at the centre of planning for India.
He was given the nickname ‘Champion of India’s Peasants’ for his work towards upliftment of farmers and development of agriculture throughout the country.
He took a leading part in formulation and finalisation of the Debt Redemption Bill 1939, in order to give relief to the peasantry from moneylenders.
He was instrumental in bringing about the Land Holding Act, 1960 which was aimed at lowering the ceiling on land holdings to make it uniform throughout the Uttar Pradesh.
He left Congress in 1967 and formed his independent party known as the Bharatiya Lok Dal.
He served twice as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He became Prime Minister of India in 1979.
He was the author of several books and pamphlets, including ‘Abolition of Zamindari’, ‘Co-operative Farming X-rayed’, ‘India’s Poverty and its Solution’, ‘Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers’ and ‘Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum’.

Current Affairs