NAKSHA Scheme: Updating Urban Land Records
Context:
The NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) scheme is a city survey initiative aimed at updating and digitising urban land records using geospatial technology. It is being implemented under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development.
Objective of NAKSHA: The primary goal of the NAKSHA scheme is to create accurate geospatial databases for urban land records. This will help in:
- Improving land governance
- Enhancing urban planning
- Streamlining property transactions
- Strengthening municipal tax administration
Need for NAKSHA
- While rural land records have been modernised, many urban areas still lack proper maps.
- Most cities—except in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa—have outdated or unstructured land records.
- Inefficiencies in property ownership records, taxation, and governance affect urban development.
- The initiative was first proposed in the 2024 Union Budget, and its importance was reiterated in the 2025 Budget Speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Implementation of NAKSHA
- The initiative has been launched as a pilot project in 152 urban local bodies across 26 states.
- The selected towns have:
- An area of less than 35 sq km
- A population of under 2 lakh
- The pilot project duration is one year, and it is expected to expand nationwide after evaluation.
Coverage and Funding
- Total coverage area: 4,142.63 sq km (out of 1.02 lakh sq km of urban areas in India).
- Funding: The scheme is 100% centrally funded.
- Estimated cost of pilot project: ₹194 crore.
- Cost per sq km:
- ₹25,000 – ₹30,000 (using a simple camera)
- ₹60,000 (using a 3D camera)
Benefits of NAKSHA
- Digital urban land records will be created, reducing land disputes.
- Helps in faster urban planning and better land use management.
- Enhances property tax collection efficiency.
- Simplifies property transactions and improves access to bank credit.
- Strengthens municipal governance and revenue generation.
Three-Stage Survey and Mapping Process: The NAKSHA survey will be conducted using drones equipped with LiDAR sensors and high-resolution cameras.
- Stage 1: Aerial Survey and Data Collection
- Selection of survey area and preparation of a drone flight plan.
- Drone captures high-resolution images for data extraction.
- Stage 2: Field Survey and Data Verification
- On-ground verification of property ownership, tax records, and registration deeds.
- Creation of 2D/3D digital models and draft land records.
- Stage 3: Claims, Objections, and Final Mapping
- Public participation to address claims and objections.
- Grievance redressal process before finalising maps.
- Final publication of updated urban land records.
Advanced Technology Used
- Drones with LiDAR sensors for high-resolution mapping.
- Ground resolution of 5 cm, which is significantly better than satellite imagery:
- European Space Agency: 30 cm resolution
- ISRO satellites: 50 cm resolution
Future Roadmap
- After the pilot phase, NAKSHA will be expanded to 4,912 urban local bodies across the country.
- The initiative will contribute to the National Geospatial Mission, supporting:
- Urban planning
- Infrastructure development
- Land record modernisation
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
