Land Acquisition Act over view Introduction: Land acquisition refers to the process by which the government or a private entity acquires land from individual owners for public or private purposes. In India, land acquisition has been a contentious issue for several decades, with many controversies surrounding the process of land acquisition, especially for public purposes. The Land Acquisition Act in India was first enacted in 1894, during the British era, and was based on the principle of eminent domain, which allowed the government to acquire private land for public purposes. However, the act was criticized for being archaic and insensitive to the rights of the landowners, and was widely considered to be in need of reform. In 2013, the Land Acquisition Act was amended, leading to a significant change in the process of land acquisition in India. The Land Acquisition Act, 2013: The Land Acquisition Act, 2013, replaced the previous Land Acquisition Act of 1894, and sought to address some of the concerns that were raised about the earlier act. The new act introduced a number of changes that were aimed at protecting the rights of landowners, and ensuring that the process of land acquisition was fair and transparent. Some of the key provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, include: Consent: The new act requires that the consent of 80% of landowners be obtained for land acquisition for private projects, and the consent of 70% of landowners be obtained for land acquisition for public-private partnership projects. This provision is aimed at ensuring that land acquisition is not done without the consent of the majority of landowners, and that the process is fair and transparent. Compensation: The new act provides for higher compensation to be paid to landowners, and also introduces a solatium of 100% of the compensation amount. This provision is aimed at ensuring that landowners are adequately compensated for the loss of their land, and that they are not unfairly disadvantaged by the process of land acquisition. Rehabilitation and Resettlement: The new act provides for rehabilitation and resettlement of landowners who have been affected by the process of land acquisition. This provision is aimed at ensuring that landowners are not left without any means of livelihood, and that they are able to rebuild their lives after the loss of their land. Social Impact Assessment: The new act provides for a social impact assessment to be carried out before the process of land acquisition is initiated. This provision is aimed at ensuring that the social and economic impact of land acquisition is carefully evaluated, and that the process of land acquisition is not initiated without due consideration of the impact it will have on the community. Timeframe: The new act provides for a time limit of five years within which the process of land acquisition must be completed. This provision is aimed at ensuring that landowners are not left in a state of limbo for an extended period of time, and that the process of land acquisition is completed in a timely manner. Controversies: Despite the many positive changes that the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, introduced, it has not been without its controversies. One of the main criticisms of the act has been that it is anti-development, and that the provisions for obtaining consent and carrying out social impact assessments have made it difficult for companies to acquire land for large-scale projects. Another criticism of the act has been that it does not adequately address the issue of land acquisition by the government for public purposes. The act provides for the payment of compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement of landowners, but it does not address the issue of whether the government has the right to acquire private land for public