Modi government’s renewed emphasis on Digitization of land records to empower the Rural households

Rural India is undergoing a significant transformation with the digitisation of land records, thereby modernising the management of land ownership. The initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in land administration, empowering millions of rural households. Officials believe the initiative will enhance:

• Real-time access to land ownership details;
• Improve the utilisation of land resources;
• Reduce disputes, and;
• Ensure transparency in record-keeping.

Emphasising the importance of this initiative, the union minister of rural development informed that nearly 95% of land records have been digitised in rural India since 2016, marking a critical advancement towards ensuring secure and accessible land ownership in rural areas.

Need for Digitisation of Land Records

The digitisation of land records in India is felt necessary to address the traditional challenges like:

• Disputes;
• Frauds, and;
• Inefficient manual processes.

Accessibility of ownership information online is expected to lead to:

• Enhancing transparency and reducing illegal encroachments;
• Easing of burden on courts by simplifying dispute resolution through digitised records, and;
• Empowering marginalised communities by improving access to land rights.

Integration with geospatial mapping

Geospatial mapping involves the collection, interpretation and visualisation of data linked to specific geographical locations. It has the advantage of:

• Enhancing land management enabling accurate Surveys and planning, and;
• Ensuring payment of fair and timely compensation during land acquisitions or disasters, owing to the maintenance of digital records.

Overall, this shift is said to have paved the way for a more transparent, accessible, and efficient land governance system in the Country.

Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP)

The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), previously known as the National Land Record Modernisation Programme (NLRMP) launched by the Government of India in 2008, has now been restructured as a Central Sector Scheme in April 2016 with full funding from the Central government.

The main goal of the programme is to establish a modern and transparent land records management system by developing an Integrated Land Information Management System with the aim:

• To provide real-time land information;
• Optimise land use;
• Benefit landowners and potential buyers;
• Support policy-making;
• Reduce land disputes;
• Prevent fraudulent transactions;
• Obviate the need for physical visits to offices, and;
• Enable data sharing with various organisations.

The finance ministry has approved Rs 875 crore for the initiative for the period 2021–26, which includes new components such as:

•  Computerising revenue courts;
• Integrating them with land records, and;
• Linking Aadhaar with land rights on a consent basis.

Progress made under DILRMP

Significant progress has been made under DILRMP, including:

• Computerisation of around 95% of land records, covering over 6.26 lakh villages;
• Digitisation of 68.02 % of Cadastral maps at the National level;

Cadastral maps are specialised maps that provide detailed information about land within a certain area. These maps are crucial for understanding property boundaries, sizes, and uses. They serve as a vital tool for governments, land surveyors, property developers, and individuals interested in land ownership and use.

• Integration of 87% of Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) with land records.

Key Initiatives under DILRMP

• Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN):

The ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhar provides a 14-digit alphanumeric code for each land parcel based on its geo-coordinates, i.e., the latitude and longitude to measure its position on the earth.

Alphanumeric codes, also called character codes, are binary codes that represent letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation in a form computers can easily process. Binary codes are basically ways of representing information using binary digits, i.e., 0s and 1s.

Implemented in 29 States/UTs, ULPIN is expected to help:

• Streamline real estate transactions;
• Resolve property disputes, and;
• Improve disaster management efforts.
• National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS):

NGDRS or e-Registration provides a uniform process for deed/document registration across the country, allowing for:

• Online entry;
• Payments;
• Appointments, and;
• Document searches.

So far, 18 States/Union Territories (UTs) have adopted it, and 12 others have shared data with the National portal.

Linking land records with e-Courts aims to provide authentic land information to the judiciary, aiding in faster case resolution and reducing land disputes.

e-Court Integration has been cleared in 26 States/UTs.

• Transliteration of Land Records:

To overcome language barriers in accessing land records, the program is translating land documents into any of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution. Transliteration is the act or process of writing words using a different alphabet, usually to show the pronunciation.

This is already in use in 17 States/UTs.

Under this initiative, 168 districts across 16 States have achieved Platinum Grading for completing over 99% of the program’s core components, including:

• Land record computerisation and;
• Map digitisation.

Epilogue

The Government of India is spearheading a transformative shift in land governance, focusing on enhancing transparency and accessibility of land information.

By leveraging modern technologies like geospatial mapping and ULPIN, the initiative seeks to establish a more organised and efficient approach to managing land records.

According to researchers, digitisation of land records, adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and implementation of online portals for land registration and grievance redressal have emerged as key strategies to enhance citizen engagement, accountability, and governance in land administration processes.

The change is especially considered important for marginalised communities, as it empowers them with secure and accessible proof of ownership, an essential factor for economic growth and stability.

In fine, as land records become clearer and more accessible, they pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society, where every individual can claim their rightful place and contribute to the nation’s progress.

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