India Shares Land Records Digitization Experience with Sri Lankan Delegation
The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, hosted a delegation of Sri Lankan civil servants on September 23, 2026, as part of an exposure program coordinated by the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG). The interaction, chaired by Shri P. Narahari, Joint Secretary of DoLR, focused on India's comprehensive experience in digitizing and modernizing land records through the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).
DILRMP Achievements and Key Metrics
India presented substantial progress in land records digitization, with 99.90% of textual Records of Rights (RoRs) computerized nationwide. Spatial data transformation shows 97.43% of cadastral maps digitized and 76.16% of land parcels fully georeferenced. Integration between spatial and textual data has reached 85.24% completion. The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) system, referred to as Bhu-Aadhaar, has assigned 14-digit alphanumeric identifiers to over 40.58 crore land parcels based on geospatial coordinates, enabling better linkage across land-related datasets.
Registration and Court System Modernization
The delegation learned that 98.96% of Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) have been computerized, with 17 States/UTs adopting the centralized National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and another 17 States using state-specific digital registration software. Revenue court modernization has achieved 94.11% computerization under the Revenue Court Case Management System (RCCMS), enabling real-time litigation marking on property records. The integration between property registration and land records through mutation is progressing toward paperless registration and automated mutation, reducing processing delays and citizen visits to government offices.
Technological Infrastructure and Urban Mapping
The Bharat Land Stack represents an integrated, GIS-based federated architecture combining satellite and drone imagery, georeferenced cadastral boundaries, Records of Rights, property registration data, master planning, zoning regulations, building approvals, restrictions, litigation status, circle rates, and tenancy details. For urban areas, the NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) program employs advanced technologies including 2D Nadir cameras, 5-camera Oblique systems, and LiDAR sensors mounted on aerial drones for centimetre-level positional accuracy. The program generates Ortho-Rectified Imagery (ORI), Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and 3D Reality Models for complex urban landscapes. Aerial flying has been completed across 145 of 150 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the pilot phase, progressing toward issuance of legally authentic Urban Property (UrPro) Cards.
International Knowledge Exchange
The engagement emphasized the importance of land records not merely as administrative documents but as critical assets linked to livelihoods, economic activity, access to government benefits, and citizens' sense of security. Indian officials highlighted their approach of continuously modernizing land administration through technology while recognizing the diversity of state-level land systems. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Ms. Pathirage Laxman Pathmakumari and included Dr. Mukesh K. Bhandari, Course Coordinator from NCGG, and Dr. A.P. Singh, Course Director, along with senior officials from Sri Lanka's land, survey, and administrative services.