National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)

March 1, 2025

Introduced on February 18, 2025, by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
Objective: Aims to modernize urban land records using GIS technology, aerial surveys, and field mapping to enhance governance and land management.
Scope: Focuses on towns covering less than 35 sq. km with populations below 200,000; initially piloted in 152 urban local bodies across 26 states.
Need: Addresses challenges of outdated urban land records, inefficient taxation, and governance gaps, aligning with urban sector reforms.
Funding: The ₹194 crore pilot project is fully funded by the central government, with survey costs depending on the technology used.
Methodology: Utilizes drone-based aerial surveys with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensors to capture high-resolution images, followed by ground verification.
Impact: Seeks to digitize land records, reduce property disputes, streamline transactions, and strengthen urban planning and financial systems.
Expansion: Upon successful implementation, the project will scale up to 4,912 urban local bodies, ensuring a comprehensive urban land management framework.