Centre proposes digital property law to modernise registrations

29 May 2025 CW Team

Prepared by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development, the draft bill proposes key changes such as online submission and registration of documents, electronic admission and verification, and the digital issuance of registration certificates. This overhaul means citizens will no longer be required to physically visit registration offices; instead, documents can now be submitted “in person or through electronic means” — simplifying processes and reducing procedural delays.

The bill also mandates registration of critical property documents, including agreements to sell, powers of attorney, sale certificates, and equitable mortgages, many of which were previously optional.

Welcoming the move, Shekhar G Patel, President, CREDAI, stated:

“The Central Government’s proposal to enable fully online registration of immovable property marks a landmark reform and a long-overdue modernisation of India’s real estate ecosystem. By mandating digital registration of key documents, the draft bill addresses long-standing procedural gaps that often caused ambiguity and delays. This will significantly enhance transparency, reduce fraud, and improve ease of doing business for developers while providing greater legal assurance to homebuyers.”

He added that features like Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital land record maintenance pave the way for government-certified titles, enabling future innovations such as title insurance and demat-style ownership transfers, making property transactions as seamless as trading in financial markets.

By linking registration systems with other official databases, the reform is expected to ensure real-time validation of ownership and encumbrances, helping to reduce litigation and boost buyer confidence. Patel emphasised that the initiative would benefit developers and investors across urban and emerging Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, laying the groundwork for a unified, transparent, and tech-driven property ecosystem that supports the sector’s long-term growth.

In a landmark move to modernise India’s property registration system, the Central Government has released the draft Registration Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace the 117-year-old Registration Act of 1908. The proposed legislation introduces a fully digital, paperless, and citizen-centric framework for registering immovable property — a first for India’s real estate sector. Prepared by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development, the draft bill proposes key changes such as online submission and registration of documents, electronic admission and verification, and the digital issuance of registration certificates. This overhaul means citizens will no longer be required to physically visit registration offices; instead, documents can now be submitted “in person or through electronic means” — simplifying processes and reducing procedural delays. The bill also mandates registration of critical property documents, including agreements to sell, powers of attorney, sale certificates, and equitable mortgages, many of which were previously optional. Welcoming the move, Shekhar G Patel, President, CREDAI, stated: “The Central Government’s proposal to enable fully online registration of immovable property marks a landmark reform and a long-overdue modernisation of India’s real estate ecosystem. By mandating digital registration of key documents, the draft bill addresses long-standing procedural gaps that often caused ambiguity and delays. This will significantly enhance transparency, reduce fraud, and improve ease of doing business for developers while providing greater legal assurance to homebuyers.” He added that features like Aadhaar-based identity verification and digital land record maintenance pave the way for government-certified titles, enabling future innovations such as title insurance and demat-style ownership transfers, making property transactions as seamless as trading in financial markets. By linking registration systems with other official databases, the reform is expected to ensure real-time validation of ownership and encumbrances, helping to reduce litigation and boost buyer confidence. Patel emphasised that the initiative would benefit developers and investors across urban and emerging Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, laying the groundwork for a unified, transparent, and tech-driven property ecosystem that supports the sector’s long-term growth.

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