NAKSHA Project (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations)
Why in News?The NAKSHA pilot project is actively conducting formal field inquiries and public document verifications in Goa, while the central government clarifies that existing land titles remain fully protected.
Background
- The NAKSHA Project was launched under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) to modernize urban land records using geospatial technologies.
- The initiative aims to create accurate and digital urban land records for better governance, urban planning and property management.
- NAKSHA stands for National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations.
- The project is implemented by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, with technical support from the Survey of India, NICSI and other partner agencies.
- It uses drone surveys, GIS mapping and field verification to prepare accurate digital maps of urban land parcels.
- The pilot project covers 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 27 States and 3 Union Territories.
- The project creates a GIS-integrated database of urban land parcels to improve land administration and infrastructure planning.
- The initiative supports transparent property records, efficient municipal governance and better public utility planning.
- The mapping exercise does not affect ownership rights, land titles or ongoing property disputes.
- The project will reduce property disputes by creating accurate and updated urban land records.
- It will improve urban planning, infrastructure development and municipal service delivery.
- The initiative supports Digital India, PM Gati Shakti, and evidence-based urban governance.
- Integrating legacy land records with modern digital databases remains a major challenge.
- Successful implementation requires coordination among multiple agencies and public awareness to counter misinformation.
- Data privacy and regular updating of land records are essential for long-term success.
- The Government clarified that NAKSHA is only a land mapping exercise and does not involve land acquisition or changes in ownership rights.
- The second phase of the project has begun in several pilot areas with verification of land records and title documents.
- The project should be expanded across all urban local bodies with regular updating of digital land records.
- Public awareness campaigns should address misconceptions and build trust in the survey process.
- Integration with other Digital India initiatives can strengthen transparent and technology-driven urban governance.
