Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, has urged all states to accelerate the integration of Aadhaar numbers with Records of Rights (RoRs), calling it a vital reform for ensuring transparency in land ownership and streamlining the delivery of key government schemes such as AgriStack, PM-KISAN, and crop insurance.
Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day National Workshop on Survey/Re-survey under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) in Guntur, the Minister said that digitization, Aadhaar linkage, resurvey initiatives, paperless offices, and court case management systems are essential to creating a transparent, inclusive, and tech-enabled land governance ecosystem in India.
He emphasized that linking Aadhaar with land records would curb impersonation and fraud, ensure rightful access to land benefits, and boost confidence among banks, investors, and farmers. “Proper land surveys unlock the economic potential of land when records match the ground reality,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to completing the long-pending task of land record modernization, Dr. Pemmasani said DILRMP was launched to bring about transformation through integration, digitization, and the adoption of new technology. “If we want fast highways, smart cities, safe housing, and sustainable agriculture, we must start from the ground — quite literally,” he said.
Despite significant progress under DILRMP, Dr. Pemmasani pointed out that survey and re-survey work — a critical component — has been completed in only 4% of villages so far due to the complex and resource-intensive nature of the exercise.
He stressed the importance of political will and coordination between the Centre and States to sustain the momentum. “Without proper mapping and updating of spatial records, current cadastral maps become obsolete,” he noted, recalling that many of India’s original land surveys date back over a century.
He unveiled the Government of India’s plan to conduct a centrally coordinated, technology-driven survey using drones, aircraft, GIS, AI, and high-precision tools at just 10% of the cost of traditional methods. The initiative will cover 3 lakh sq. km. of rural agricultural land over two years in Phase I, with an estimated outlay of Rs.3,000 crore.
Dr. Pemmasani also announced NAKSHA, a new initiative targeting urban and peri-urban land record modernization. Over 150 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are already covered under this programme to tackle increasing disputes, frequent transactions, and rising informal settlements in urban areas.
He called upon states to make registration systems and Revenue Court Case Management Systems (RCCMS) fully online and paperless to bring transparency and reduce litigation delays. Noting that nearly 66% of civil cases in lower courts and 25% in the Supreme Court pertain to land disputes, the Minister said outdated and inaccurate land records have long impeded justice and development.
“Accurate land titles are essential protections for small farmers, tribal communities, and rural women. Let us walk the path from Bhu-vivad to Bhu-vishwas — from land disputes to land trust — together as Team Land Records,” the Minister urged.
Also present were Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad, Special Chief Secretary G. Jaya Lakshmi, DoLR Secretary Manoj Joshi, Joint Secretary Kunal Satyarthi, and senior officials, experts, and practitioners from various states.