India Becomes ‘Country Champion’ at World Bank Land Conference 2025

India assumed the role of a Country Champion at the World Bank Land Conference 2025, earning global recognition for its pioneering digital land governance initiatives. Flagship schemes such as SVAMITVA and the Gram Manchitra platform were highlighted as effective, scalable models for inclusive rural development, climate resilience, and land rights formalization through advanced technology.

Why in News?

India’s elevation to Country Champion status at the prestigious World Bank Land Conference 2025 highlighted its leadership in digital land governance and decentralized planning. The recognition comes after significant achievements in land parcel mapping, property rights formalization, and rural infrastructure planning.

Key Government Initiatives Recognized

• SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas):
• Objective: Establish clear ownership of residential property in rural areas.
• Method: Drone-based mapping of land parcels.

Achievements

• 68,000 sq. km surveyed
• Rs. 1.16 trillion worth of land monetized
• Scalable model for land rights formalization and financial inclusion

Gram Manchitra Platform

• A GIS-based platform to help Gram Panchayats plan local development.
• Promotes data-driven, climate-resilient, and integrated development planning.
• Helps convergence of multiple schemes at village level.
• Especially relevant to the Global South with its adaptability to local governance systems.

Broader Benefits of Efficient Land Management

• Jobs and Entrepreneurship: Clear land titles enhance access to credit, supporting new businesses and livelihoods.
• Private Capital Generation: Land becomes usable collateral, spurring private investment.
• Infrastructure Development: Stable land records enable property taxation, which funds public services.
• Revenue Insights: Land taxes make up just 0.6% of GDP in low-income countries vs. 2.2% in industrialized ones.
• Urban and Disaster Planning: Proper land records help manage urban expansion and reduce disaster risks.
• Gender & Food Security: Women’s secure land access could raise agricultural output by 4%.