India’s NAKSHA Project Transforms Urban Land Administration

New Delhi, India — In a decisive step toward modernising land governance, India is rolling out a bold new geospatial initiative called NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey). This nationwide effort, tied to the broader Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), aims to digitise land records, settle property disputes, and enhance planning and taxation using cutting-edge geospatial technologies.

Officials at the launch of the NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey) pilot project on 18 February 2025. (Photo: The Hindu)

Among the early adopters, the Union Territory of Chandigarh has emerged as a pilot location. Authorities are surveying approximately 30.6 square kilometres encompassing Sectors 2 through 17 and five adjoining villages.

Using a combination of drone imagery, ground verification, and GNSS rovers, the project is mapping properties to create digital cadastral records. Officials believe the digital maps will significantly reduce errors and ambiguities in land ownership that have historically bogged down planning, tax collection, and urban development.

In the state of Telangana, the government has launched surveys in 413 villages that currently lack cadastral maps. Employing drone-based imaging and rigorous field validation, the project aims to develop a comprehensive cadastral database.

These efforts fall under the recently enacted Bhu Bharati Act, which mandates full digitisation of property data for transparency and administrative efficiency. State officials report that the pilot is progressing well, with initial findings expected within two to three months.

Andhra Pradesh is another frontrunner in this digital shift. The state has initiated NAKSHA across 524 square kilometres covering over 950,000 urban properties. Technologies being deployed include LiDAR, oblique aerial photography, and GIS-based data analytics. The project aims to produce high-resolution, GIS-compatible land maps within a year, improving accuracy in property taxation, urban planning, and infrastructure rollout.

“Accurate land records are the foundation of any developed economy,” says R. Madhavan, a senior official in Andhra Pradesh’s Urban Planning Department. “The NAKSHA program is the first serious attempt to modernize our land management system with real-time data and spatial intelligence.”

The Indian government’s emphasis on geospatial modernisation reflects a growing recognition that outdated, paper-based records hinder development. Land disputes remain among the most litigated issues in India, and access to institutional credit is often impeded by vague or disputed titles.

Digitisation, officials argue, could streamline these processes and facilitate smoother land acquisition for public projects and private investments.

What makes the NAKSHA program notable is its adaptability. From dense urban grids in Chandigarh to under-mapped rural landscapes in Telangana, the project’s use of modular, tech-forward solutions offers a replicable model for other regions. If successfully scaled, India could set a new global benchmark in geospatially enabled land administration.

As the digital surveys progress, stakeholders in urban development, agriculture, real estate, and finance are closely watching. Their collective hope: that geospatial technology will deliver a more accountable, efficient, and equitable system for managing land — one digital boundary at a time