NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL KNOWLEDGE-BASED LAND SURVEY OF URBAN HABITATIONS (NAKSHA)

GS2 GOVERNANCE: 

Launched on February 18, 2025, by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, NAKSHA aims to modernize urban land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). The pilot project covers 152 urban local bodies across 26 states.

What Is NAKSHA?

• A geospatial survey initiative improving urban land governance.
• Uses GIS, aerial, and field surveys for accurate mapping.
• Focuses on towns under 35 sq. km with populations below 200,000.

Need for NAKSHA

• Urban areas lack updated land records, unlike rural regions.
• Improves governance, taxation, and property transactions.
• Highlighted in the 2024 and 2025 Union Budgets for urban reforms.

Objectives

• Digitizing urban land records to reduce disputes.
• Enhancing urban planning and financial health of local bodies.
• Creating a digital repository for efficient property management.

Funding & Costs

• Fully funded by the central government with a ₹194 crore pilot budget.
• Survey costs: ₹25,000-30,000/sq. km (basic), ₹60,000/sq. km (3D).

Survey Methodology

• Drones with LiDAR-equipped cameras conduct aerial mapping.
• High-resolution images ensure better accuracy than satellite data.
• Three-step process: area selection, aerial survey, ground verification.

Future Expansion

• Plans to cover 4,912 urban local bodies nationwide.
• Aims to improve urban land management and policy decisions.