Guwahati: In a groundbreaking move towards modernizing land administration and ensuring transparency, Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, Smt. Nidhi Khare, unveiled the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) across Assam. The launch event, organized by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Assam, also marked the introduction of the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) and the pilot rollout of Blockchain technology in land records in the Darrang district.
Smt. Nidhi Khare highlighted the significance of NGDRS, a project initiated by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, under the One Nation One Software initiative. She emphasized that the NGDRS application, developed by NIC Pune, is a common, generic platform designed for registration departments nationwide. The Assam instance of NGDRS, hosted in the State Data Centre (SDC), has been integrated with various services, including Dharitree, NOC, eGras, e-Stamp, and citizen services of Sewa Setu.
“The NGDRS in Assam is a transformative step in land records management. With integration with key services and auto-calculation of fees, it aims to streamline and digitize the registration process, providing citizens with efficient and transparent services,” said Smt. Nidhi Khare.
She further shed light on the integration of Blockchain technology in land records initiated by the Revenue & Disaster Management Department of the Government of Assam. This IT reform aims to bring radical transformation by ensuring increased trust, auditability, traceability, and immutability of land records data. The ULPIN serves as a unique blockchain ID, a 14-digit alpha-numeric identification number assigned to every land parcel, akin to the AADHAR or fingerprint for land.
“The goal of securing land records with blockchain is to allow transactions to be recorded and distributed but not edited. This unique combination of cryptography and distributed network nodes ensures data is maintained and validated in a trusted ecosystem,” explained Smt. Khare.
The ULPIN, derived from geo-referenced cadastral maps, identifies land parcels based on longitude and latitude. Smt. Khare highlighted the benefits of ULPIN, including uniqueness in transactions, keeping spatial records up-to-date, linking property transactions, and eliminating fraudulent activities.
In addition, the Secretary announced the digital signing of deeds by Sub-Registrar Offices (SRO) and their storage in the blockchain, ensuring security, accountability, and record scrutinization throughout the process. The pilot launch of the District-level Blockchain-based cadastre and land records registry in Darrang district is set to pave the way for a statewide rollout in the near future, marking a significant leap in the digitization of land administration in Assam.
