1. INTRODUCTION

The Government of India have decided to implement the Centrally-Sponsored scheme in the shape of the National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) by merging two existing Centrally-Sponsored Schemes of Computerization of Land Records (CLR) and Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SRA&ULR) in the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development. The integrated programme would modernize management of land records, minimize scope of land/property disputes, enhance transparency in the land records maintenance system, and facilitate moving eventually towards guaranteed conclusive titles to immovable properties in the country. The major components of the programme are computerization of all land records including mutations, digitization of maps and integration of textual and spatial data, survey/re-survey and updation of all survey and settlement records including creation of original cadastral records wherever necessary, computerization of registration and its integration with the land records maintenance system, development of core Geospatial Information System (GIS) and capacity building. This document outlines the objectives of the NLRMP, major activities under it and implementation guidelines for the State Governments, UT Administration and the implementing agencies.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME

The main objective of the NLRMP is to develop a modern, comprehensive and transparent land records management system in the country with the aim to implement the conclusive land-titling system with title guarantee, which will be based on four basic principles, i.e., (i) a single window to handle land records (including the maintenance and updating of textual records, maps, survey and settlement operations and registration of immovable property), (ii) the ―mirror‖ principle, which refers to the fact that cadastral records mirror the ground reality, (iii) the ―curtain‖ principle which indicates that the record of title is a true depiction of the ownership status, mutation is automated and automatic following registration and the reference to past records is not necessary, and (iv) title insurance, which guarantees the title for its correctness and indemnifies the title holder against loss arising on account of any defect therein.

3. SCOPE OF THE PROGRAMME
The following is an outline of the components and activities to be taken up under the NLRMP:

 1. Computerization of land records

    • Data entry/re-entry/data conversion of all textual records including mutation records and other land attributes data
    • Digitization of cadastral maps
    • Integration of textual and spatial data
   • Tehsil, sub-division/district Computer centers
    • State-level data centres
    • Inter-connectivity among revenue offices

2. Survey/resurvey and updating of the survey & settlement records (including ground control network and ground truthing) using the following modern technology options:

     • Pure ground method using total station (TS) and differential global positioning system (DGPS)
    • Hybrid methodology using aerial photography and ground truthing by TS and DGPS
     • High Resolution Satellite Imagery (HRSI) and ground truthing by TS and DGPS.

3. Computerization of Registration

    • Computerization of the sub-registrar‘s offices (SROs)
    • Data entry of valuation details • Data entry of legacy encumbrance data
    • Scanning & preservation of old documents
     • Connectivity of SROs with revenue offices

4. Modern record rooms/land records management centres at tehsil/taluk/circle/block level

5. Training & capacity building

    • Training, workshops, etc.
    • Strengthening of the Survey and Revenue training institutes

6. Core GIS

    • Village index base maps by geo-referencing cadastral maps with satellite imagery, for creating the core GIS.
    • Integration of three layers of data: (i) Spatial data from aerial photography or high-resolution satellite imagery; (ii) Survey of India and Forest Survey of India maps; and (iii) GIS-ready digitized cadastral maps from revenue records. Once the basic plot- wise data is created by the States/UTs, seamless integration would be possible for micro and macro-planning and other relevant applications.

7. Legal changes • Amendments to The Registration Act, 1908

    • Amendments to The Indian Stamp Act, 1899
    • Other legal changes • Model law for conclusive titling 8. Programme management
    • Programme Sanctioning & Monitoring Committee in the DoLR
    • Core Technical Advisory Group in the DoLR and the States/UTs
    • Programme Management Unit (PMU) in the DoLR and the States/UTs
    • Information, education and communication (IEC) activities
    • Evaluation
    • All the activities shall be taken up in a systematic, ladder-like manner. These have been framed in the form of two kinds of ladders – primary and secondary. The primary ladder covers activities for reaching the stage of conclusive titling, and the secondary ladder covers archival purposes and strengthening of the revenue administration. These are of an indicative nature, and the States/UTs may suitably adopt them as per their need and carry out the process re-engineering involved, wherever necessary

Contact:

    Programme Director
    NLRMP cell, LRD&MD,
    Govt of Sikkim,
    SITCO building, Deorali
    Gangtok, Sikkim
    Ph No: 03592-280044