The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held high-level discussions on strengthening cooperation in digital land governance, cadastral mapping, and watershed management. The meeting focused on expanding India’s land administration infrastructure under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) while integrating geospatial and climate-resilient resource management systems into future planning frameworks.
The discussions highlighted the ongoing transition toward DILRMP 3.0, which aims to create dynamic, real-time land record systems capable of integrating land titles, mutations, cadastral maps, and land-use information into a unified interoperable digital framework. The initiative is also intended to support easier land verification, reduce disputes, improve credit access, and strengthen planning for infrastructure and industrial projects.
A major focus area was the expansion of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) system, under which unique digital identifiers have already been generated for around 66% of India’s agricultural land parcels. The government also plans to expand technology-driven cadastral mapping and survey systems into urban municipalities.
The discussions additionally explored collaboration in climate-resilient watershed management through the use of remote sensing, geospatial systems, and big-data-driven planning tools. The ADB is expected to support technical assistance, institutional capacity-building, and financing models linked to sustainable natural resource management and digital land infrastructure.
Key Benchmarks (DoLR–ADB Discussions, May 2026)
ULPIN coverage extended to around 66% of agricultural land parcels
Transition underway toward DILRMP 3.0
Focus on real-time land record updates and interoperable registries
Expansion of digital cadastral mapping into urban areas
Increased use of:
remote sensing
geospatial systems
big-data analytics for watershed planning
Collaboration discussions include:
technical assistance
financing support
institutional capacity-building
What is a Land Stack?
A Land Stack is a digital public infrastructure framework that integrates land titles, cadastral maps, registration records, mutation histories, and land-use information into a unified interoperable system. It is designed to improve land verification, reduce disputes, streamline transactions, and support data-driven governance across sectors such as agriculture, banking, infrastructure, and urban planning.
Policy Relevance
Expansion of digital land records and ULPIN systems could improve land ownership clarity, reducing litigation and improving access to formal agricultural and rural credit.
DILRMP 3.0 reflects a broader shift toward interoperable digital governance systems where land administration becomes integrated with finance, taxation, planning, and infrastructure development.
Urban cadastral mapping may help municipalities improve property-tax assessment systems and strengthen local revenue generation capacity.
Integration of geospatial and remote-sensing tools into watershed planning could improve climate resilience, water conservation, and sustainable resource management in vulnerable rural regions.
ADB collaboration may provide access to international technical expertise, financing structures, and institutional models for scaling digital land governance systems.
The development of a national Land Stack also raises long-term governance questions around data privacy, land rights protection, interoperability standards, and institutional accountability.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India scale interoperable digital land governance systems while ensuring land rights protection, accurate cadastral verification, data security, and equitable access for rural and vulnerable communities?
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