Question

Why did the forest rules restrict shifting cultivation in india?

Answer 1

the british felt that in shifting cultivation thre were many dangers.when forests were burnt for cultivation,valuable timber will be lost,it would be difficult for the british to collect taxes when shifting cultivation was practised 
so they banned shifting cultivation

Answer 2

[1] European foresters regarded this practice as harmful for the forests.
[2] The main aim of forest rules was to grow trees for railway timber. So, foresters felt that the land which was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber.
[3] Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes.
[4] When the forest was burnt, there was the added danger of flames spreading and burning valuable timbers.
[5] Therefore, the government decided to ban shifting cultivation through forest rules.