NAKSHA Programme India

India has taken another significant step in digital governance with the launch of the NAKSHA Programme India, a forward-looking initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). Designed to transform urban land mapping and administration, this program aims to make land governance 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 India, bringing together District Magistrates and Collectors from across the country to prepare for its nationwide rollout.

Background and Purpose of the NAKSHA Programme

The NAKSHA Programme India is a one-year pilot initiative focusing on urban land record modernization. Its primary goal is to realize the government’s vision of “One Nation, One Land Record,” ensuring accurate mapping, clear ownership authentication, and public access to urban land records.

The program integrates advanced geospatial technology, GNSS-based land surveys, and Web-GIS land record systems to create a comprehensive digital land management system. Through this initiative, land digitization in urban areas will be significantly improved, reducing disputes, simplifying property tax assessments, and aiding in smart cities' land data management.

Technological Components

The NAKSHA Programme India leverages multiple cutting-edge technologies:

• Geospatial Mapping: Digitally maps every urban land parcel with precision.

• GNSS-Based Land Survey: Provides real-time, location-based accuracy.

• Web-GIS Platform: Offers a visual interface for easy verification of land records.

• Aerial & Drone Mapping India: Captures accurate terrain and boundary data for validation.

By combining these technologies, the NAKSHA Programme India strengthens land governance and ensures digital land records are reliable and accessible to citizens.

Workshop and Training Initiatives

The LBSNAA training workshop on the NAKSHA Programme India provided district officials with hands-on experience in:

• GIS mapping in India and Web-GIS land record system usage

• Conducting GNSS-based land surveys

• Ground-truthing and validation techniques

• Best practices for citizen outreach and awareness campaigns

Experts from the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the Survey of India (SoI) shared insights on how the NAKSHA Programme India transforms urban land management, emphasizing real-time verification and the role of geospatial mapping for land records.

Legal and Administrative Framework

For successful implementation, the NAKSHA Programme India relies on a strong legal and administrative foundation:

• Legal Guidelines: Digital land authentication and ownership records.

• Administrative Coordination: Collaboration between central, state, and local bodies.

• Public Awareness: Educating citizens about the new digital land records system.

This multi-agency collaboration ensures that Digital India land reform efforts are uniform, legally sound, and scalable across states.

Key Stakeholders

Several institutions are pivotal to the NAKSHA pilot project 2025:

• Department of Land Resources (DoLR)—Overall program coordination

• Survey of India (SoI)—Technical mapping and survey support

• Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC)—Digital infrastructure

• National Institute of Geo-informatics Science and Technology (NIGST)—Training and technical expertise

Senior civil servants, geospatial technology experts, and policymakers have collaborated to create a holistic framework for land governance in India.

Significance and Future Prospects

The NAKSHA Programme India is expected to:

• Eliminate ambiguity in urban land ownership.

• Reduce litigation through accurate record validation.

• Improve efficiency in digital land management systems.

• Support smarter urban planning and infrastructure development

Through land digitization, real-time access to information, and integration with smart cities' land data, the NAKSHA Programme India 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: LBSNAA

• Launch Year: 2025 (Pilot phase)

• Focus Area: Urban land records modernization

Final Thoughts

India has taken a major step in digital governance with the launch of the NAKSHA Programme India, under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), aimed at transforming urban land management. The program focuses on digital land records, urban land mapping, and land digitization, using geospatial technology, GNSS-based surveys, and Web-GIS platforms for a transparent and accurate land record system.

A training workshop at LBSNAA equipped district officials with hands-on skills in GIS mapping India, drone mapping India, and ground verification techniques. The initiative ensures legal and administrative coordination across central, state, and local bodies, enabling smooth implementation and easy citizen access.

By integrating real-time data, geospatial mapping for land records, and smart cities land data, the NAKSHA Programme India aims to reduce land disputes, improve property management, and support better urban planning.