Union Minister Chandrasekhar Pemmasani has highlighted the urgent need for states to complete the integration of Aadhaar numbers with land ownership records, calling it a vital reform to ensure transparency, eliminate impersonation, and deliver government benefits more effectively.
Speaking at a two-day National Workshop on land survey and re-survey under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said the initiative aims to build a comprehensive and transparent land governance system through reforms like digitization, resurvey, paperless offices, and better case management systems.
He stressed that accurate land surveys hold the key to unlocking the economic potential of land, allowing banks to extend credit confidently, enabling investors to commit resources, and giving farmers better access to support schemes such as PM-KISAN, crop insurance, and Agristack.
Highlighting the Centre’s commitment to providing clear, current, and conclusive land records, Pemmasani explained that the DILRMP was designed to modernize land governance through the use of technology. He pointed out that, despite substantial progress in some areas, only four percent of villages have completed the crucial task of survey and resurvey due to the sheer scale and complexity involved.
The Minister said land in India is not just a physical asset, it is deeply tied to identity, security, and dignity, particularly for the nearly 90 percent of citizens for whom land represents their most valuable possession. However, outdated and inaccurate land records continue to be a major source of disputes and legal delays, with land-related cases making up over 66 percent of civil disputes in lower courts and about a quarter of pending cases in the Supreme Court.
He also noted that many of India’s original land surveys date back to the colonial era, conducted more than a century ago using primitive tools. Some regions, including several in the North-East and Union Territories, have never even had a proper cadastral survey. Where states have tried, the lack of coordination and manpower has hindered progress.
To counter this, the Government of India is now taking up a centrally coordinated, technology-driven initiative using drones, aircraft, artificial intelligence, and GIS tools, delivering results at just a fraction of traditional costs. The programme will be rolled out in five phases, starting with 3 lakh square kilometers of rural agricultural land over two years, backed by a Rs 3,000 crore budget in its first phase.
The Minister also introduced NAKSHA, a separate initiative aimed at digitizing land records in urban and peri-urban areas, where property values are high and disputes are frequent. Already covering over 150 Urban Local Bodies, the programme is designed to improve urban planning, affordable housing, and boost municipal revenues.
He added that the Department of Land Resources is working to help states digitize their land registration systems and court case management processes, making them accessible online and eliminating delays caused by paper-based systems.
Chandrasekhar Pemmasani stressed that these reforms are especially important for small and marginal farmers, tribal communities, and rural women, for whom clear land titles are not a luxury but a lifeline.
He called on states and the Centre to work together as “Team Land Records” to finish this long-overdue task and ensure land is no longer a source of conflict but of trust and development. “The journey from Bhu-vivad to Bhu-vishwas begins with us,” he said, urging all stakeholders to act now for a more secure and prosperous future.
The event was also attended by Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, Special Chief Secretary G. Jaya Lakshmi, Secretary Manoj Joshi, Joint Secretary Kunal Satyarthi, and several other senior officials and experts from across the country.
