India to Showcase SVAMITVA Scheme at World Bank Land Conference 2025

India is poised to play a crucial role at the 2025 World Bank Land Conference, set to take place from May 5th to 8th at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. A high-level Indian delegation, led by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), will present India’s transformative SVAMITVA Scheme, alongside the Gram Manchitra platform. These initiatives, which harness advanced geospatial technologies and drones, aim to revolutionize rural land governance and contribute to climate action and sustainable development. India’s leadership at this global forum underscores its commitment to digital land reforms and climate-responsive governance.

Why in News?

The 2025 World Bank Land Conference is drawing attention for its focus on securing land tenure and fostering climate action through effective land governance. As a part of this, India’s SVAMITVA Scheme and Gram Manchitra platform are gaining global recognition for their innovative approach to land mapping and rural empowerment.

Aim of India’s Participation at the World Bank Land Conference 2025

• To showcase the success and potential of the SVAMITVA Scheme and Gram Manchitra platform as models of digital land governance.
• To highlight India’s efforts in empowering rural populations, particularly women, through secure land tenure and digital mapping technologies.
• To contribute to global discussions on scaling land governance reforms and integrating geospatial technologies for climate action.

SVAMITVA Scheme Overview

• Objective: To provide legal ownership of rural properties through drone mapping and high-resolution geospatial data.
• Impact: Over 24.4 million households across 1.6 lakh villages have received property cards, unlocking a land value of approximately $1.162 trillion.
• Significance: SVAMITVA exemplifies inclusive, tech-driven governance by improving land rights, tax administration, and infrastructure planning.

Gram Manchitra Platform

• A tool that utilizes SVAMITVA’s geospatial data to support village-level planning, including land use, disaster preparedness, and solar energy site selection.
• It serves as a catalyst for rural development by ensuring that local governance is informed by accurate, up-to-date geospatial information.

India’s Global Leadership in Land Governance

• India’s participation at the World Bank conference emphasizes its growing role in global land governance discussions.
• The country is committed to promoting South-South cooperation, where developing nations can share knowledge and best practices for land administration and sustainable development.

Sessions at the World Bank Land Conference

• Plenary Session: Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, MoPR, will discuss India’s SVAMITVA Scheme’s impact on rural property rights and its contribution to global SDG targets.
• Technical Session: Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, MoPR, will lead a session on establishing land foundations for climate action, disaster risk management, and rural development using tools like Gram Manchitra.

Previous Milestone

• Earlier, India hosted an International Workshop on Land Governance in March 2025, where SVAMITVA drew international interest, showcasing India’s commitment to reforming rural land governance.