West Bengal Finance Minister says the urban land ceiling law has to go

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West Bengal Finance Minister says the urban land ceiling law has to go

2 October 2026

Speaking at the 24th CREDAI NATCON in Kolkata, West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said of the state's urban land ceiling law: "It is an impediment and a deterrent to development. It has to go." He also called for stronger regulation, more organised developer participation and the full implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act in West Bengal. He said Kolkata's real estate sales in the first half of 2026 had reached about 70 per cent of the previous year's full-year level, and that sales growth of over 20 per cent compared with the previous year was expected. The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act was enacted in 1976 and was repealed by the Centre in 1999, with West Bengal the only major Indian state still enforcing it.

Event: 24th CREDAI NATCON, Kolkata Act enacted: 1976 Repealed by the Centre: 1999 Kolkata sales, first half of 2026: About 70% of the previous year's full-year level

Why it matters for exams: A central Act repealed in 1999 but still enforced by one state is exactly the kind of federal detail asked in polity and economy papers.

Kerala PSCUPSC

2 October 2026 Source: The Tribune

In plain words

CREDAI Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India — The national body of private real estate developers in India.

RERA Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act — The 2016 central law that requires housing projects and agents to be registered with a state regulator.

Urban land ceiling Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act — A law that caps how much vacant urban land a person may hold and allows the state to take the surplus.