Centre Highlights Digital Land Governance and Watershed Development Reforms During Meeting with ADB

Secretary, Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Narendra Bhooshan, today held an introductory meeting with a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by its Country Director Ms. Mio Oka to discuss ongoing reforms and future cooperation in the areas of land governance, land records modernization and watershed development.

During the meeting, Shri Narendra Bhooshan outlined the Department’s major initiatives aimed at strengthening land administration systems and promoting sustainable management of land and water resources as part of India’s long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat mission.

The Secretary emphasized that effective land governance plays a crucial role in accelerating economic growth, improving service delivery and ensuring inclusive development. He noted that transparent and efficient land administration systems are essential for unlocking the economic value of land assets, reducing disputes and supporting infrastructure, agriculture and investment-related activities across the country.

Highlighting the increasing role of technology in governance reforms, Shri Bhooshan informed the ADB delegation about the substantial progress made under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). He said several States and Union Territories have achieved near saturation in digitization of Records of Rights while significant progress has also been made in linking textual land records with cadastral maps.

According to officials, the modernization programme is helping improve transparency, reduce litigation and facilitate easier access to land-related services for citizens. The initiative is also expected to support financial inclusion by enabling easier access to credit and institutional services linked to land ownership.

The Secretary further informed that the Department is preparing to launch the next phase of the programme, DILRMP 3.0, which will focus on strengthening land governance systems through advanced technological interventions, dynamic updating of records and better integration of land-related databases across departments and states.

A key focus of the upcoming phase will be the wider rollout of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), popularly referred to as “Bhu-Aadhaar.” Shri Bhooshan stated that ULPINs have already been generated for nearly 66 percent of agricultural land parcels across India.

The ULPIN system aims to provide each land parcel with a unique digital identity, helping improve accuracy, traceability and interoperability of land records while reducing duplication and disputes.

The Secretary also shared the Department’s vision of creating a comprehensive “Land Stack” as the next layer of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India. The proposed Land Stack would integrate land records, registration systems, mutation processes, land use data and other related services into interoperable digital platforms to improve governance efficiency and citizen service delivery.

Officials explained that such integrated systems could significantly streamline administrative procedures, reduce delays and enhance transparency in property-related transactions.

Shri Bhooshan also highlighted ongoing efforts to extend modern land governance systems and technology-driven mapping solutions to urban areas, where rapid urbanization and rising land demand are creating new governance challenges.

On the issue of watershed development, the Secretary emphasized the importance of climate-resilient and sustainable land and water management practices for improving agricultural productivity, strengthening rural livelihoods and addressing environmental challenges.

He underlined the need for innovative financing models, convergence-based development approaches and greater use of technology to scale up watershed development initiatives across the country.

The meeting also included discussions on global best practices related to land administration, digital governance, natural resource management and watershed development. Both sides exchanged views on the use of emerging technologies such as geospatial systems, remote sensing, digital platforms and data-driven planning tools for improving governance outcomes and resource management.

ADB Country Director Ms. Mio Oka briefed the Department about various projects and initiatives currently being supported by the Asian Development Bank in India, particularly in sectors such as digital agriculture, climate resilience, watershed management and institutional capacity building.

She expressed ADB’s strong interest in collaborating with the Department of Land Resources in areas of mutual interest and highlighted the importance of technology-driven governance systems in supporting sustainable and inclusive development.

The discussions also explored possibilities for future cooperation between the Department and ADB in areas including technical assistance, policy support, institutional strengthening, capacity building and knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at improving sustainable land and watershed management systems in India.

Senior officials attending the meeting included Additional Secretary Shri R. Anand, Joint Secretary Shri P. Narahari, Joint Secretary Shri Nitin Khade, Economic Advisor Shri P.K. Abdul Kareem and other officials from the Ministry of Rural Development.

The meeting reflects the Government’s growing focus on digital governance reforms, sustainable natural resource management and climate-resilient rural development as India moves toward modernizing land administration and strengthening agricultural sustainability.