As per the Land Revenue Records, any land is categorized as Culturable Waste-Land if it is left fallow (uncultivated) for more than

According to the Land Revenue Records in India, land use is classified into nine distinct categories. Culturable Waste-Land is defined as any land that is potentially available for cultivation but has been left fallow or uncultivated for a period exceeding five years [4]. This category includes lands that may be covered with shrubs or jungles and can be brought back under cultivation through reclamation practices [1]. In contrast, 'Current Fallow' refers to land left uncultivated for one year or less, while 'Fallow other than Current Fallow' includes land left uncultivated for more than one year but less than five years [2]. Therefore, once the period of non-cultivation exceeds the five-year threshold, the land is reclassified from fallow to culturable wasteland [1]. This classification helps the government track potential agricultural productivity and land degradation trends [4].

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Land Use Categories > p. 22
2. [4] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Land-use Changes in India > p. 24
3. [2] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/legy203.pdf