WHAT?

The Draft Registration Bill, 2025, proposed by India’s Ministry of Rural Development, aims to modernize and digitize the property registration system, replacing the outdated Registration Act of 1908. It introduces a digital, paperless, and citizen-friendly framework to streamline property transactions, enhance transparency, and reduce fraud.

Current law in force

The Registration Act of 1908 is outdated, relying on manual processes ill-suited for today’s digital and economic landscape. Property documents are critical for financial, legal, and administrative purposes, necessitating a uniform, secure, and efficient system. While some states have digitized land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, a centralized law ensures consistency across India.

Key Features of the new proposed bill

1. Online Registration System: Enables fully digital registration of property documents, including electronic submission, verification, and issuance of e-certificates. Eliminates the need for physical visits to sub-registrar offices, reducing delays and reliance on intermediaries. Supports digital signatures, biometric thumbprints, passport-size photos, and PAN for secure processing.
2. Expanded Mandatory Registration: Mandates registration of additional documents, such as agreements to sell, powers of attorney, sale certificates, equitable mortgages, and court-ordered instruments. Includes property transfers in corporate mergers, demergers, or restructurings to ensure accurate ownership records.
3. Aadhaar-Based Verification: Permits optional Aadhaar authentication with informed consent for identity verification. Offers alternative verification methods (e.g., other government-approved IDs) to ensure inclusivity.
4. Digital Record-Keeping: Mandates digital maintenance of records, integrated with land revenue and municipal databases for real-time ownership validation. Enhances traceability and reduces risks of duplicate sales or title fraud.
5. Modernized Administrative Structure: Introduces roles like additional and assistant inspectors general for efficient governance. Grants states rule-making authority to address regional needs. Includes appeal mechanisms for registration denials to ensure fairness.
6. Fraud Prevention: Uses tamper-proof digital certificates and detailed property mapping to reduce fraud, such as multiple sales of the same property or fake powers of attorney. Strengthens legal enforceability by making unregistered documents invalid in disputes.

Benefits
 

1. Efficiency: Reduces registration time from days or weeks to hours, with online processes accessible from home.
2. Transparency: Digital records and integration with databases minimize fraud and improve due diligence.
3. Cost and Time Savings: Eliminates middlemen, reducing costs and bureaucratic hurdles.
4. Legal Clarity: Expands compulsory registration to cover modern transactions, minimizing disputes.
5. Inclusivity: Provides offline options and alternative IDs to accommodate all citizens.

Challenges and Concerns
 

1. Cybersecurity: Transitioning to a fully digital system raises concerns about data security and privacy.
2. Implementation: Requires training for officials, infrastructure upgrades, and public awareness to ensure smooth adoption.
3. Digital Divide: Accessibility for rural or less tech-savvy populations may be a hurdle, despite offline options.

The draft bill is open for public feedback until June 25, 2025, via the Department of Land Resources website.
Suggestions can be submitted in MS Word or PDF format to sanand.b@gov.in, with section-wise comments encouraged.