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    • Most cities are having outdated land records due to the involvement of multiple agencies.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