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Context:

The NAKSHA scheme launched by the Union Rural Development Minister to address outdated or non-existent land records in urban areas.

About NAKSHA

It operates under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and is led by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Its core objective is to create accurate geospatial maps of urban areas, establishing a comprehensive digital database for urban land records.

The pilot phase covers 152 urban local bodies (ULBs) across 26 states, targeting cities with:

• Area < 35 sq km
• Population < 2 lakhs
• The pilot will be completed within a year, with plans to expand to 4,912 ULBs nationwide post-evaluation.

Significance

Most Indian cities lack updated maps or structured land records, except in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa. This restricts urban governance, taxation, and planning.

The Union Finance Minister highlighted the need for urban land digitization in the 2024 and 2025 Union Budgets, stressing GIS mapping and IT-based property administration to boost municipal finances and urban reforms.

NAKSHA tackles issues like inefficient governance, tax collection gaps, land disputes, and poor urban planning due to inaccurate records.

NAKSHA survey follows a three-stage process:

Aerial Survey & Data Acquisition

Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras (5 cm ground resolution) and LiDAR sensors capture aerial imagery. This resolution is superior to satellites (e.g., ISRO’s 50 cm, European Space Agency’s 30 cm).

Two camera types are used: simple cameras for basic mapping and oblique-angle cameras for 3D terrain data.

Field Survey & Data Integration

Ground verification links property tax, ownership, and registration records to land parcels.

2D/3D models are created, and draft ownership details are published for public review.

Claims, Objections, and Finalization

A redressal mechanism resolves disputes before finalizing maps and records .

Key Features & Funding

100% Centrally Funded: The pilot project costs ₹194 crore, with per sq km costs ranging from ₹25,000 (simple cameras) to ₹60,000 (3D cameras).

Technology Integration: Uses drones, LiDAR, GIS mapping, and AI-driven analytics to ensure accuracy.

Expected Benefits

Reduced Land Disputes: Clear ownership records will minimize conflicts.

Efficient Urban Planning: Accurate geospatial data will aid infrastructure development.

Improved Tax Collection: Better records will boost municipal revenues.

Simplified Transactions: Digitized records will streamline property sales and credit access .

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Digitisation and Land Reforms

Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS