India launches DILRMP 3.0 with ₹565 crore land records modernisation push

The Ministry of Rural Development formally launched DILRMP 3.0 on Thursday, marking a significant shift in how India manages its land records infrastructure. The five-year initiative, spanning 2026-31, aims to move beyond simple digitisation toward a comprehensive land management ecosystem that integrates records, maps, registrations and associated datasets into a unified digital framework.

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised the programme's strategic importance, framing land records modernisation as central to India's agricultural and governance priorities. The initiative represents an evolution from earlier phases that focused primarily on converting paper-based records into digital formats.

Under the new framework, individual states will develop their own "land stacks" by integrating diverse land-related datasets and systems through application programming interfaces (APIs). These state-level digital stacks will operate as autonomous units while feeding into a federated national land stack architecture. This decentralised approach allows states to maintain ownership and control of their data while enabling seamless interoperability across state boundaries.

The GIS-based digital framework underpinning DILRMP 3.0 is designed to facilitate better land administration, reduce disputes, and streamline property transactions. By creating standardised protocols for data integration, the programme aims to establish a more transparent and efficient land management system across India's diverse geographical and administrative landscape.

The operational guidelines released Thursday provide the technical and administrative framework for states to begin implementation, with funding support available for digitisation infrastructure, capacity building and system integration efforts.