New Delhi, May 21: 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. During the meeting, Shri Narendra Bhooshan highlighted the key initiatives being undertaken by the Department of Land Resources in the areas of land governance, land records modernization and watershed development in line with the Government’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Secretary stated that the Department of Land Resources has been entrusted with the crucial responsibility of land records management and land administration in the country. He noted that efficient land administration and optimal utilization of land resources are essential for accelerating economic development, unlocking the value of land assets and ensuring inclusive growth.

Emphasizing the transformative role of technology in land governance, Shri Bhooshan informed the delegation that significant progress has been achieved under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). He stated that digitization of Records of Rights has reached near saturation in several States and Union Territories, while linkage of textual land records with cadastral maps has crossed significant milestones across the country.

He further informed that the Department is in the process of rolling out the next phase of the programme, DILRMP 3.0, aimed at further strengthening land governance systems through technological interventions, dynamic updation of land records and improved integration of land-related databases. The Secretary also highlighted the progress made in allotment of Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPIN), also referred to as “Bhu-Aadhaar”, to land parcels across the country. He informed that ULPINs have already been generated for around 66 per cent of agricultural land parcels in India.

Shri Bhooshan further shared the Department’s vision of developing a comprehensive “Land Stack” as the next layer of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), integrating land records, registration, mutation, land use and other related services through interoperable digital systems for improved governance and service delivery. He also highlighted the Department’s ongoing initiatives for expanding modern land governance practices to urban areas, including mapping and technology-driven solutions.
On watershed development, the Secretary underlined the importance of climate-resilient and sustainable land and water management practices for enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening rural livelihoods. He stressed the need for innovative financing models, technological interventions and convergence-based approaches for scaling up watershed development initiatives across the country.

The meeting also deliberated upon global best practices in land administration, watershed development, digital governance and sustainable natural resource management. Discussions were held on the use of emerging technologies, including geospatial systems, digital platforms, remote sensing and data-driven planning for improving governance outcomes.

Ms. Mio Oka briefed the Secretary about various initiatives and projects being supported by the Asian Development Bank across different sectors in India and its ongoing engagement with State Governments. She highlighted ADB’s work in areas such as digital agriculture, climate resilience, watershed management and institutional capacity building, and expressed ADB’s keen interest in collaborating with the Department of Land Resources in areas of mutual interest.
Both sides discussed avenues for future cooperation, including technical assistance, policy support, capacity building and knowledge sharing for strengthening sustainable land and watershed management systems in the country.

The meeting was also attended by Additional Secretary Shri R Anand; Joint Secretary Shri P. Narahari; Joint Secretary Shri Nitin Khade; Economic Advisor Shri P.K. Abdul Kareem; and other senior officials of the Ministry.

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