National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Recently, the Government  launched a pilot project, the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA).

About

• Announced in 2024-25 Budget.
• Aim: To standardise record-keeping, simplify processes and bring transparency in land transactions.
• Budget: Rs 5,000 crore for the first phase.
• Features: 
  • Creating updated digitised land records in 150 cities across the country in the next year.
  • To link each land parcel with details about the owner of the land and the type of development on it.
  • Cover the entire urban area in the country within a period of 5 years.  
• Background: As per the 2023-24 Economic Survey, nearly 40% of India’s population is expected to be living in urban areas by 2030.
  • Streamlining land and property record systems is essential for the planned development of cities.
  • Only a few states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat have a system of urban land record management in place.
  • Most cities are having outdated land records due to the involvement of multiple agencies.
• Other Initiatives: There has been the successful implementation of two crucial Central government schemes — the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme.
  • These schemes aimed to modernise land records in rural areas for agricultural land parcels and residential areas.

Need for Digitization of Land Records

• It will transform land management by addressing traditional challenges like disputes, fraud, and inefficient manual processes. 
• Ownership information will be 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. 

Achievements under DILRMP

• It was restructured as a Central Sector Scheme in 2016 to establish a modern and transparent land records 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. 

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. 
• As land records become clearer and more accessible, they pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Source: TP