Digitization of Land Records

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Rural India is undergoing a significant transformation with the digitization of land records, modernizing the management of land ownership. 

About

• 95% of land records have been digitized in rural India since 2016, marking a critical advancement towards ensuring secure and accessible land ownership in rural areas.

Need for Digitization of Land Records

• It has transformed land management by addressing traditional challenges like disputes, fraud, and inefficient manual processes. 
• Ownership information is easily accessible online, enhancing transparency and reducing illegal encroachments. 
• It simplifies dispute resolution, easing court burdens, and empowering marginalized communities by improving access to land rights. 
• Integration with geospatial mapping enhances land management, enabling accurate surveys and planning. 
• During land acquisitions or disasters, digital records ensure fair and timely compensation. 

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

• It was previously known as the National Land Record Modernization Programme, and was restructured as a Central Sector Scheme in 2016, with full funding from the union government. 
• Its main goal is to establish a modern and transparent land records management system by developing an Integrated Land Information Management System.
• Achievements: 
  • Around 95% of land records have been computerized.
  • Digitization of cadastral maps has reached 68.02% at national level. 
  • 87% of Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) have been integrated with land records. 
• Key Initiatives under DILRMP
  • Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN): It provides a 14-digit alphanumeric code for each land parcel, based on its geo-coordinates.
  • National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS): It provides a uniform process for document registration across the country, allowing online entry, payments, appointments, and document searches. 
  • e-Court Integration: It aims to provide authentic land information to the judiciary, aiding in faster case resolution and reducing land disputes. 
  • Transliteration of Land Records: To overcome language barriers in accessing land records, the program is transliterating land documents into any of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution. 
  • Bhoomi Samman: 168 districts across 16 States have achieved “Platinum Grading” for completing over 99% of the program’s core components, including land record computerization and map digitization.

Conclusion

• India is witnessing a transformative shift in land governance, focusing on enhancing transparency and accessibility of land information. 
• This change is especially important for marginalized communities, as it empowers them with secure and accessible proof of ownership—an essential factor for economic growth and stability. 
• As land records become clearer and more accessible, they pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Source: PIB