Context: Recently, the Department of Land Records (DoLR) has informed that at least 26 States and UTs have adopted the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhar and seven more States are conducting a pilot test of the project.

About Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN)

• The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) is a 14-digit identification number that is a part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

• It aims to uniquely identify every surveyed parcel of land and prevent land fraud, especially in rural India where land records are outdated and disputed.

• ULPIN is based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel and depends on detailed surveys and geo-referenced cadastral maps.

• It is a single, authoritative source of truth for information on any parcel of land or property to provide integrated land services to the citizens as well as all stakeholders.

• ULPIN will compile every detail pertaining to different properties from across the country and link various types of data relating to the landed properties, which are currently under the possession of different ministries and departments.

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

• DILRMP is a central sector scheme implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development.

• Its aim is to develop an Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across the country by building upon the commonalities that exist in land records in various states.

• The ILIMS integrates all land records databases with banks, financial institutions, circle rates, registration offices, and other sectors.

• Major components of the program include the computerization of land records, survey/re-survey, and computerization of registration.

What is India aiming for?

• The Indian government is aiming to digitize 100 per cent of land records by 2024. 

• The initiative to create a unified database for land and property records comes alongside other government projects to digitize health and education records through a similar foundational plan which involves creating separate registries for stakeholder entities, a unique ID (in this case the Bhu-Aadhaar) linked to common national IDs like Aadhaar and integration of these databases via APIs which allow for interoperability of services like registrations, managing certifications, transfer of land ownership, etc.

What is the need?

• Land disputes account for 66 per cent of civil cases in the country. 

• These disputes mainly arise out of issues related to land ownership and whether or not the state has the power to redistribute land, which may have historically been inhabited by various indigenous communities of that region. 

What are the challenges?

As the government speeds up the process to digitize land records, concerns related to

• accuracy in mapping the areas as per physical demarcations

• lack of documentation

• manipulation of digital records

• uncertainties about mechanisms to challenge digital records on the basis of existing rules