NAKSHA Programme Transforms Urban Land Records in India

India has taken another major stride in digital governance with the launch of the NAKSHA Programme, a forward-looking initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). Designed to transform urban land management, NAKSHA aims to make land administration more transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly. Recently, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) hosted a two-day National Training-cum-Workshop on the NAKSHA Programme, bringing together District Magistrates and Collectors from various states to prepare for its nationwide implementation.

Background and Purpose of the NAKSHA Programme

• The NAKSHA Programme is a one-year pilot initiative focusing on urban land record modernization.
• It integrates geospatial mapping, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and Web-GIS technologies to create a comprehensive digital land database.
• Its main objective is to realize the government’s vision of “One Nation, One Land Record”, ensuring accurate mapping, clear ownership authentication, and ease of public access to urban land records.

Technological Components

NAKSHA makes use of multiple advanced geospatial technologies to improve precision and accessibility,

• Geospatial Mapping: Digitally maps every urban land parcel with precision.
• GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): Ensures real-time, location-based accuracy for surveys.
• Web-GIS Platform: Provides a visual interface for easy access and verification of land records.
• Aerial & Drone Surveys: Capture accurate terrain and land boundary data for validation.

These technologies will help reduce land disputes, simplify property tax assessment, and support urban planning through reliable, real-time data.

Workshop and Training Details

The National Workshop at LBSNAA offered comprehensive sessions to train district officials on the NAKSHA workflow and its on-ground implementation.

Training modules covered,

• Hands-on GIS and Web-GIS tools
• GNSS-based survey demonstrations
• Ground-truthing and validation techniques
• Best practices in land mapping and citizen outreach

Experts from the Department of Land Resources and Survey of India shared practical insights on the challenges of digital land management and the importance of real-time verification.

Legal and Administrative Framework

NAKSHA’s success depends on a robust legal and administrative foundation. Workshop sessions emphasized,

• Legal guidelines for digital land authentication and ownership records
• Administrative coordination between central, state, and local bodies
• Public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the new digital system
• The initiative stresses multi-agency collaboration to ensure smooth, uniform, and legally sound implementation across states.

Key Stakeholders and Expert Contributions

Several institutions and departments have collaborated to drive the NAKSHA initiative,

• Department of Land Resources (DoLR) – Overall programme coordination
• Survey of India (SoI) – Technical mapping and ground data support
• Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) – Digital infrastructure management
• National Institute of Geo-informatics Science and Technology (NIGST) – Training and technical expertise

Senior civil servants, geospatial experts, and policy makers contributed to developing a holistic and scalable framework for land governance.

Significance and Future Prospects

The NAKSHA Programme is a landmark in urban land governance, expected to,

• Eliminate ambiguity in urban land ownership
• Reduce litigation through accurate record validation
• Improve efficiency in land administration
• Enable smarter urban planning and infrastructure development

By ensuring data transparency and real-time access, NAKSHA strengthens citizen trust and aligns with India’s Digital India and Smart Cities Mission goals.

Static Facts

• Full Form: NAKSHA is not an acronym; it means “Map” in Hindi.
• Launched Under: Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)
• Implementing Ministry: Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development
• Training Organized By: Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA)
• Launch Year: 2025 (Pilot phase)
• Focus Area: Urban land records modernization