Land Records in India: Urban Challenges and Reform Measures

Context: Need for Urban Land Record Modernisation

A working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister has recommended extending the SVAMITVA Scheme to urban areas. It highlights that land records in cities are fragmented across multiple agencies, making ownership verification complex and limiting access to credit and formal finance.

Key Issues in Urban Land Records

• Fragmented records across:
• Revenue departments
• Municipal bodies
• Registration authorities
• Lack of updated cadastral maps
• Poor integration of property ownership data
• Limited recognition of tenants and occupiers
• Disputes due to unclear titles

Measures to Improve Land Records in India

Implement a SVAMITVA-Like Scheme for Urban India

• Use drone-based cadastral mapping and geospatial technologies
• Provide legal property ownership records
• Enhance:
• Credit access
• Property valuation
• Urban governance

Integrate Vertical Property Ownership Records

• Address complexities in multi-storey buildings
• Example: Maharashtra model of issuing property cards to flat owners

Benefits

• Clear ownership titles
• Reduced disputes in apartments and societies

Create a Unified Digital Land Registry

• Single platform integrating:
• Revenue records
• Municipal data
• Property registration

Outcome

• “Single source of truth” for land ownership
• Improved transparency and efficiency

Strengthen Safeguards and Grievance Redress

• Mandatory verification before record updates
• Transparent notification systems (SMS alerts, public notices)
• Accessible grievance redress mechanisms

Importance

• Prevents fraud and wrongful entries
• Builds trust in digital systems

Regular Resurvey and Real-Time Updating

• Use technology for periodic resurvey
• Ensure real-time updating of ownership records

Supporting Evidence

• Studies by Administrative Staff College of India highlight benefits of tech-enabled surveys

Include Tenants and Occupiers in Records

• Move beyond ownership-centric records
• Document:
• Tenants
• Occupiers
• Actual possessors

Impact

• Better urban planning
• Inclusive governance

Establish National Standards for Land Governance

• Create a uniform framework across states
• Similar to national benchmarks in labour reforms

Benefits

• Standardisation of practices
• Reduced interstate discrepancies

Broader Implications

• Financial Inclusion : Property ownership enables access to credit and loans
• Ease of Doing Business : Clear titles reduce litigation and transaction costs
• Urban Planning and Governance : Accurate records support infrastructure planning

Challenges in Implementation

• Federal structure: land is a State subject
• High cost of digitisation and surveys
• Resistance from vested interests
• Data privacy and security concerns

Way Forward

• Centre–State coordination for standardisation
• Public awareness and stakeholder participation
• Leveraging emerging technologies (GIS, blockchain)
• Phased implementation in urban and peri-urban areas

FAQs on Land Records in India

What is the SVAMITVA scheme?

It is a scheme for mapping and providing property ownership in rural areas using drones.

Why are urban land records problematic?

Because they are fragmented across multiple agencies and often outdated.

How can land records improve credit access?

Clear ownership titles can be used as collateral for loans.

What is a unified land registry?

A single digital platform integrating all land-related records.

Why include tenants in land records?

To reflect actual usage and improve governance and planning.

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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH