Patna: The Nitish Kumar government is preparing to overhaul land registry procedures by making GIS mapping compulsory at the time of plot registration. Officials say the move is designed to reduce large-scale fraud and improve transparency in one of the state’s most sensitive administrative sectors.
Under the new rules, the exact latitude and longitude of a plot, along with a photograph, must be uploaded at the time of registration. The data will form part of a digital record that can be viewed online, making land verification faster and more reliable. The Department of Prohibition, Excise, and Registration is currently developing the software needed to implement the system.
Sushil Kumar Suman, DIG for Registration, confirmed that the proposal is in its final stages. “Work on the software is underway, and we expect the system to be operational soon,” he said.
Officials say the use of GIS technology will allow accurate mapping and geographic analysis of land, providing clarity in boundary identification and reducing the scope for fraudulent claims. The shift is also expected to improve citizen services by integrating land records with real-time digital data.
The department introduced an e-registration platform earlier this year, enabling residents to apply for land and housing registration from home, complete online payments, and book appointments. Applicants only need to attend the registry office once for biometric verification and KYC formalities.
More than 6.20 lakh people have already received digital copies of their registered deeds, which are now shared via WhatsApp on the same day of document approval.
The state government hopes these reforms will address a long-standing issue: fraudulent land registrations and disputes that often clog Bihar’s courts for years. If successful, the new system could become a model for other states seeking to modernise land governance.
