Govt's SVAMITVA scheme emerging as a potent tool for formalisation of rural residential land: IIM survey
The rural property ownership scheme, SVAMITVA, is emerging as a potent tool for formalisation of residential land, improving the financial standing of gram panchayats, and making a positive impact on the rural economy, says a survey by IIM Ahmedabad.
The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme, under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, is enabling the creation of accurate and legally recognised property records for rural inhabited areas.
“By introducing transparency, precision, and accountability in property ownership records, the scheme has significantly strengthened local governance systems. It ensures clear demarcation of property boundaries and formal recognition of ownership rights, thereby reducing disputes and enhancing trust in public institutions,” the survey noted.
“Beyond land administration, the scheme has also catalysed the growth of India's geospatial and drone ecosystem, generating employment and technological capacity across sectors,” it said.
The study found that villages included in the programme exhibited an increasing trend in the registration of residential land parcels, but the mutation of agricultural parcels has decreased, indicating a formalisation of residential land ownership and a reduction in informal land conversions. Launched in April 2020, the scheme received an allocation of Rs 472 crore for five years to conduct drone-based aerial surveys aimed at mapping and legally recognising property records in rural areas.
The outlay for the scheme has been increased to Rs 576 crore, with an extension granted till September 2026. The IIM-A study found that registered mutations for residential parcels grew by 6.2% annually in the 42,000 surveyed villages in Madhya Pradesh. Agricultural parcel mutations fell by 4.87%, indicating a reduction in informal land conversions.
“The SVAMITVA scheme aims to ensure formal ownership of property in rural areas. It is using drones to take pictures of villages and measure land accurately with the help of a set of fixed GPS stations to create habitation property records. Traditionally, agricultural land records have been maintained, but no record is available for habitation. This scheme has, for the first time, provided village property records,” Vivek Bhardwaj, secretary, panchayati raj, said. According to the ministry, drone surveys have been conducted in 3.30 lakh villages, covering approximately 70,000 square kilometres of rural land.
"The issuance of Property Cards has expanded rapidly since the launch of the scheme. From 7,440 villages receiving Property Cards in FY 2020–21, coverage has expanded to 1.89 lakh villages by FY 2025–26. In total, around 3.14 crore Property Cards have been prepared, providing formal ownership documentation to rural households across the country," it said. This transition from informal settlements to geo-referenced, rights-based property records marks a historic shift in rural land governance. The survey noted that the estimated monetised value of abadi land mapped under the scheme is approximately ₹135 lakh crore, indicating the substantial economic potential unlocked through the formalisation of property rights.
"As per data compiled in coordination with State Level Bankers’ Committees (SLBCs), approximately 10,913 loans amounting to ₹1,679 crore have been sanctioned using SVAMITVA property cards as collateral. This demonstrates the scheme’s role in converting previously undocumented rural residential land into a viable financial asset and expanding financial inclusion," it said.
