A Modern Land Survey Begins in Thanjavur
NAKSHA Urban Mapping Pilot Set to Transform City Land Records: The Indian government launched an ambitious urban land reform pilot named NAKSHA — short for National Geospatial Knowledge-based Survey of Urban Habitations — on February 18, 2025, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Spearheaded by Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, this initiative aims to digitise urban land data using cutting-edge drone and geospatial technologies in towns with outdated property records.
What the NAKSHA Programme Seeks to Solve
NAKSHA is an urban extension of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), targeting persistent issues in land ownership clarity, tax evasion, and dispute resolution. Many Indian municipalities still operate with decades-old maps, leading to confusion over property boundaries and delays in municipal tax collection. The pilot focuses on 152 towns across 26 states, all under 35 sq. km in size and with populations below 2 lakh.
Mapping Cities with Drone Eyes and Smart Software
The NAKSHA pilot uses drones, LiDAR scanners, and GIS tools to build high-resolution, real-time maps of urban areas. These maps will be connected to municipal property databases, allowing for automated assessment of taxes and ownership verification. Advanced 3D camera systems will provide angled building visuals, surpassing the clarity of satellite maps. The survey workflow includes aerial mapping, field validation, and digital record integration.
What the Cities Will Gain
This initiative promises to modernise city planning, boost transparency in land ownership, and accelerate property-related transactions. With more accurate data, municipalities will be better equipped to collect property taxes, resolve ownership conflicts, and plan infrastructure more effectively. For fast-urbanising towns, this programme could lead to improved urban financial autonomy and long-term development.
Investment Structure and Costs
The Union government has earmarked ₹194 crore for the pilot phase. Depending on the technology used, each square kilometre of urban land will cost between ₹25,000 for basic imaging and ₹60,000 for advanced 3D visualisation. Though expensive, the investment is intended to build a transparent, reliable, and future-ready land governance system.
Vision for Nationwide Expansion
If the pilot meets its objectives, the government plans to scale the initiative to 4,912 urban bodies across India. This expansion will support urban missions like Smart Cities, PM Awas Yojana, and future-ready infrastructure development. NAKSHA also reflects India’s growing emphasis on tech-driven public services and digital transparency in governance.
STATIC GK SNAPSHOT: NAKSHA Urban Mapping Project
| Topic | Details |
| Full Scheme Name | National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey (NAKSHA) |
| Launched By | Shivraj Singh Chouhan |
| Launch Location | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu |
| Launch Date | February 18, 2025 |
| Connected Mission | Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) |
| Pilot Coverage | 152 towns in 26 states |
| Targeted Towns | <35 sq.km in size, population <2 lakh |
| Technologies Used | Drones, LiDAR, GIS software, 3D cameras |
| Central Budget | ₹194 crore |
| Mapping Cost | ₹25,000–₹60,000 per sq.km |
| Expansion Target | 4,912 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) |
