The 5th Meeting of the Central Advisory Council (CAC), constituted under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), was held at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi, marking eight years of regulatory reform in India’s real estate sector. The meeting was inaugurated with a welcome address by Shri Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary (Housing), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), followed by key insights from Secretary (HUA), Shri Srinivas Katikithala, on RERA’s evolution.Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, and Minister of State, Shri Tokhan Sahu, addressed the council, highlighting the importance of strengthening RERA implementation across States and Union Territories.On this occasion, Shri Manohar Lal launched the Unified RERA Portal (rera.mohua.gov.in), a centralised digital platform aimed at enhancing transparency, sharing best practices, and improving data integration among States and UTs. The portal is expected to empower homebuyers, anticipate project delays using AI, and contribute to more informed decision-making in property purchases.RERA’s 8-Year ProgressDuring the session, it was noted that:35 States/UTs have established Real Estate Regulatory Authorities.29 States/UTs have functional Appellate Tribunals.27 States/UTs have appointed Adjudicating Officers.Over 151,000 projects and 106,545 agents have been registered.Nearly 147,400 complaints have been resolved by authorities nationwide.The Council reviewed the implementation of the Amitabh Kant Committee Report on legacy stalled projects, noting that Uttar Pradesh had already adopted the recommendations. It called on other States to follow suit and work towards resolving long-pending projects to restore homebuyer trust.Key Recommendations:Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs): To enhance RERA enforcement and ensure compliance with orders.AI-driven Data Integration: The new portal will consolidate nationwide data, helping monitor project delays and mitigate risks related to stalled developments.Unified Framework: The Council stressed uniformity in registration, enforcement, definitions, and timely approvals from local authorities.Faster Redressal: Focus on swift grievance handling, especially in the case of project registration delays and fund withdrawals post-completion.Central Reform Committee: A panel within MoHUA including all stakeholders will be set up to ensure that rules and regulations remain in alignment with the parent Act.Union Minister Manohar Lal stated, “RERA has empowered homebuyers, ensured timely delivery, and brought accountability. States must now fully implement the Act in letter and spirit.” Minister of State Tokhan Sahu added, “The priority must be faster grievance resolution and revival of stalled projects to rebuild trust.”Secretary Srinivas Katikithala emphasised the systemic reforms introduced through RERA, including project registration, disclosures, and structured redressal mechanisms. He noted that the CAC meeting would provide valuable inputs for the next generation of regulatory reforms.The meeting concluded with a strong call for nationwide commitment to RERA enforcement, focusing on building a transparent, responsive, and investor-friendly real estate ecosystem.