In recent years, India has taken proactive steps to modernize land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), 2008 to create an integrated land management system. The purpose and rationale behind land modernization is to usher in a system of updated land records, automated and automatic mutation, integration between textual and spatial records, inter-connectivity between revenue and registration, to replace the present deeds registration and presumptive title system with that of conclusive titling with title guarantee.
Significance of land record modernization in India

• Better credit delivery in rural areas: Creation of vast bankable assets across rural India can help in credit growth, especially in agriculture and MSME sectors.
• Reduced litigation: Enhanced transparency in the land records maintenance system will minimize the scope of land disputes.
• Infrastructure: Facilitates development of new infrastructure by easing the process of land acquisition and rehabilitation and settlement of compensation claims.
• Revenue Generation: Enhanced local revenues through improved property tax billing and collection of stamp duty.
• Enhanced efficiency of policy making: Digitization will help improve policy makers to make informed decisions regarding land value assessment, land use planning, environmental protection and resource management.
• Check on fraudulent transactions: Generation of black money through Benami transactions could be preempted and eliminated by the digitization of land records and their regular updation.
• Others: Easy disbursal of benefits of welfare schemes implemented by Central and State Governments such as crop insurance, grant of agricultural subsidy etc.

In view of this, the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) was developed as a common, generic and configurable application for the execution of land registration documents across the country. It has been initiated by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development. As many as 28 States / UTs have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for Land Records.
Key Features:

• Functions: The application is specifically designed for the use of sub registrars, citizens and apex users from registration departments.
  • NGDRS facilitates states to create state specific instances and configure the software as per requirements.
  • Offering a complete user interface for property and document registration, the application enables citizens to proceed with land buying online.
  • They can find out the circle rate for land, calculate property valuation as per prevailing rates and understand the type of land.
• Decision Making: Transactions of prohibited properties that are restricted for sale like government land, tribal land, mortgaged land etc., is also available, which ultimately helps users to decide where and what type of land they should buy.
• Increased productivity: Property buyers need to visit the sub-registrar’s office only once and that too at the time of final signing and registration. This entire workflow has not only proved to be beneficial for citizens but has also increased productivity of the department staff.
• Others: Other features include citizen’s registration to access the system, online valuation module with stamp duty calculation, e-KYC using UID based authentication etc.
  • The National Generic Document Registration System has now moved a step ahead by introducing data analytics and blockchain technology.

It is a crucial step towards achieving efficient and equitable land governance, fostering sustainable development, and empowering individuals and communities. Thus, the land modernisation project must be implemented in full letter as well as spirit to reap its ultimate potential.