India's Land Records have undergone a digital transformation, marking a significant modernization effort by digitizing records in 626,000 villages since 2016. This initiative, covering nearly 95% of villages, also computerized 5,000 sub-registrar offices. Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised these advancements, emphasizing the positive impact on ownership verification. The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme aims to simplify land ownership disputes, introduce reforms, and enhance citizen convenience. This initiative, with 22.3 million digitized maps and 140 million unique land parcel identification numbers issued, reflects a commitment to efficient land management and streamlined processes.
In a significant stride towards modernization, the Indian government has successfully digitized land records in approximately 626,000 villages since 2016. This groundbreaking initiative, which now covers nearly 95% of the country's villages, also includes the computerization of around 5,000 sub-registrar offices responsible for managing these crucial records. Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan enthusiastically announced these achievements on Monday, highlighting the transformative impact of this digital leap.
Through the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme, initiated in April 2016 with complete central funding, the government is steadfast in its commitment to reducing legal complexities surrounding land ownership, introducing progressive land administration reforms, and fostering a climate of convenience for citizens. Notably, over 22.3 million maps have been digitized to date, with 140 million unique land parcel identification numbers, known as Bhu-Aadhaar, already issued, as revealed by the minister.
The minister's remarks came during his virtual inauguration of a two-day global workshop on modern survey technologies for urban land records, hosted by the Department of Land Resources in the national capital. This event underscores the government's dedication to embracing cutting-edge solutions for enhancing land record management practices across the country.
The urgency behind the digitization drive stems from the realization that India was facing a potential 1.3% loss in its gross domestic product due to project delays caused by land-related disputes. A recent study highlighted that a staggering 66% of all civil suits in India revolve around land or property conflicts, with the average duration of a land acquisition dispute stretching up to 20 years.
The implementation of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme is overseen by the Department of Land Resources at the central level, collaborating closely with state and Union territory governments through their respective revenue and registration departments. This concerted effort is poised to revolutionize how land records are managed and accessed, promising a future where disputes are minimized, processes streamlined, and citizens empowered with secure and efficient land ownership verification mechanisms.
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