Land record digitisation

Land record digitisation

Subject: Schemes

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

• Keeping this in view, the government revamped the existing National Land Record Modernization Programme (NLRMP) by bringing into force, the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) w.e.f April 1, 2016, as a Central scheme with 100 per cent funding.
• Two Centrally sponsored schemes of Computerization of Land Records (CLR)and Strengthening of Revenue Administration and updating of Land Records (SRA&ULR) were merged.
• The programme is slated to be fully implemented by March 2026, with completion of basic digitisation of Record of Rights (RoRs) and Cadastral Maps and integration of the the two, computerisation of Sub Registrar Offices (SROs), and integration of SROs and Revenue Offices by March 2024.
• The DILRMP scheme was launched with a view to attain commonalities that exist in the arena of land records in various States, develop an integrated system which will, among other things, provide real-time information on land, optimise use of land resources, assist in policy and planning, reduce land disputes, check fraudulent/ benamitransactions, obviate the need for physical visits to Revenue/Registration offices and enable sharing of information with various organisations/agencies.
• It attempts to build upon the commonalities that exist in the arena of land records in various States to develop an appropriate Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across the country, on which different States can also add State-specific needs as they may deem relevant and appropriate.

Identification number

Firstly, a Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhaar number has been assigned for a land parcel, which is a 14 digit alphanumeric unique ID based on geo-coordinates. It will serve as a pan-India number for obtaining ownership details of a plot along with its size and geolocation. This will result in standardisation of land records data across the country which will serve multiple purposes, including seamless sharing and cross-validation of land data across sectors/agencies/authorities and preventing duplication of land records.

Secondly, a uniform system called National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) has been developed for addressing the diversity prevailing across States with regards to registration of deeds/documents. The major benefits of this system include citizen empowerment through online entry of deed, online payment, online pre-appointment, document search and certified copy generation, decrease in time and cost at Sub-Registrar level, accommodation of all variations/gaps prevailing across the States, SMS and email alerts related to transactions on property as well as rule based transparent online valuation with accurate calculation of property cost.

Thirdly, the Records of Rights have been transliterated in all the 22 scheduled languages mentioned in the Constitution to address the problem of linguistic barriers in land governance in the country. This will enable the government to make informed policy decisions for the benefit of its citizens and will also benefit citizens and stakeholders, especially potential start-ups, investors and industry.

The DILRMP scheme will also facilitate various services such as providing caste, income and domicile certificates, and online information on crop profile, crop insurance and e-linkages to credit facilities/banks.

A comprehensive land record management system will also help resolve long pending arbitration cases and boundary-related disputes amicably, thus reducing the burden on the judiciary and the administration.

Other initiatives undertaken by the Department are as below:

I) National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)

To provide, one Nation one software for registration of documents & properties to ’empower citizens’, Department developed and field-tested a National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) through NIC/NICSI under the broad aegis of Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) a central sector scheme to include requirements of all the States and the same has been launched/under implementation in 10 states/Union Territories namely Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram and Punjab, benefiting 10.47 crore population.

The benefits are the reduction of land disputes, check on fraudulent transactions; Reduced process, time of document registration at Sub Registrar level as per reports from two state governments; processes and time taken in document registration has reduced from 9 to 6 processes and from 3-4 hours to 15-20 minutes respectively; presentation for document registration anywhere within concurrent jurisdiction is possible; SMS and email enabled alerts related to transactions on a property, a dashboard for senior authorities for monitoring the outcomes and analyzing the performance or challenges faced by SROs; data shared and used by important government authorities/stakeholders like the Revenue Department (Income Tax) with a data policy and standards in place; and external system integrations can be provided as required (i.e. eSign, eKYC, Payment Gateways, PAN Verification, ROR to fetch party names for data standardization)

NGDRS software is expected to improve the ranking of the country in ease of doing business in a world level forum and provide ease of living to the people.

II) Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN):

The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) System will have 14 digits – Alpha-numeric unique ID for each land parcel. The Unique IDs based on Geo reference coordinate of vertices of the parcel would be of international standard and compliance of the Electronic Commerce Code Management Association (ECCMA) standard and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards and it will provide compatibility so that all states can adopt it easily. Proper land statistics and land accounting through ULPIN will help develop land bank and lead towards Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS).

Benefits are to ensure uniqueness in all transactions and keep the land records always up-to-date; a link of all property transactions get established; delivery of citizen services of land records through the single window; sharing of land records data across departments, financial institutions and all stakeholders; and standardization at data and application-level would bring in effective integration and interoperability across departments.