Kerala Pioneers India’s First Online Land Registration, Sets Benchmark for Digital Governance

In a historic milestone, Kerala, the first state in India, has conducted an online registration of land under its integrated digital land management platform named “Ente Bhoomi.”The landmark transaction of a 15-cent plot at Ujar Ulvar village in Kasargod district was executed fully online on June 24, marking a national first.

The digital process, which covered everything from land sketching to sale deed execution and mutation, represents a major leap in land governance. The system uses a template-based registration model that simplifies paperwork, reduces errors, and ensures accuracy, according to Kerala Registration Department IG Sreedhanya Suresh. “Only the required details are filled in on the portal template, eliminating the need for elaborate deeds,” she said.

Launched in 2021, the digital land survey initiative has so far covered 7.34 lakh hectares across 312 villages. Ujar Ulvar was selected as the pilot site, and with its survey complete, the state conducted the country’s first full-fledged online transaction. The initiative integrates revenue, registration, and survey departments into a single-window platform for all land-related services.

The move is part of Kerala’s ambitious plan to digitize all land records and eliminate disputes, gaining attention from other states. At a recently held national conclave in Thiruvananthapuram, representatives from over 20 states explored the model. Notably, Assam, Rajasthan, and Puducherry have already begun steps to adopt it.

World Bank official Mika Petteri Torhonen, who attended the conclave, praised Kerala’s model, comparing its governance framework to global leaders like Estonia and Australia in digital land management.

With the ‘Ente Bhoomi’ initiative, Kerala not only simplifies a traditionally complex system but also sets a new standard for digital governance across India.