Story in numbers: Information on land records will have to be consolidated

In order to improve the quality of land records and make them more accessible, the central government implemented the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (now Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme). It seeks to achieve complete computerisation of the property registration process and digitisation of all land records. However, the pace of modernisation of land records and bringing them to an online platform has been slow. From 2008 to September 2017, 64 per cent funds released under the DILRMP has been utilised.

Moving to a system of state-guaranteed titles will be challenging. To address issues relating to land records, a move towards conclusive titling has been proposed. In a conclusive titling system, the government provides guaranteed titles and compensation in the case of any ownership disputes. Achieving this will require shifting to a system of registered property titles (as opposed to sale deeds) as the primary evidence of ownership, and having clear and updated land records. Adopting a conclusive system of titling will require undertaking several measures. All existing land records will have to be updated to ensure that they are free of any encumbrances. Information on land records, currently spread across multiple departments, will have to be consolidated. Further, several changes in existing laws that govern registration and transfer of land will also have to be made.