Gandhinagar hosts national meet on land and disaster governance

Event overview

Gandhinagar hosts national meet on land and disaster governance: A two-day National Conference on Land Administration and Disaster Management began on 3 October 2025 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The event was organised by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development along with the Gujarat Revenue Department. The conference brings together officers and experts from across India to strengthen land governance and disaster preparedness.

Key launches

Several initiatives were unveiled during the inaugural session. New revenue offices were inaugurated to expand institutional reach. The Revenue Diary and Integrated Land Administration (ILA) System were launched to unify workflows of land record keeping, registration, case management, and resurveying in a single digital interface. SVAMITVA cards were distributed to families from nomadic tribes, giving them secure land rights.

Static GK fact: The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to provide rural households with ownership rights.

Themes discussed

The conference focuses on reforms in land governance and disaster risk reduction. Topics include modernisation of revenue laws, upgrades in registration and record systems, adoption of GIS and remote sensing for urban mapping, reforms in revenue courts, and land acquisition frameworks. Discussions also cover resilient infrastructure, land use planning, and the role of institutions in managing disasters effectively.

Static GK fact: The Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) was started in 2008 to digitise and modernise land records across the country.

Importance of digitisation

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel highlighted the citizen-centric approach of digitising land records through indigenous technology. Digitisation aims to enhance transparency, cut delays, and reduce disputes by making property rights secure at grassroots levels. The ILA system and revenue diary are expected to speed up processes and improve accountability.

Static GK Tip: Gujarat was the first state in India to implement e-Dhara, a fully computerised land records system, in the early 2000s.

Disaster management linkage

By linking land governance with disaster management, the conference stresses that land use planning must account for climate change and hazard risks. Improved mapping, resilient infrastructure, and institutional training are central to minimising risks in disaster-prone regions.

Way forward

This national platform encourages states to share their best practices and innovative models. It also supports ongoing flagship schemes like DILRMP and strengthens coordination between central and state agencies. The conference is seen as a step toward integrating technology, legal reform, and disaster resilience into a unified land governance framework.

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Gandhinagar hosts national meet on land and disaster governance: