NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research) has released India’s first land records and services index, which evaluates the quality of land records in the country and the extent of their digitalization. The N-LRSI( NCAER Land Record Services Index) aims at filling the gaps in economic research, policy analysis, and systematic data on land. Land access is a crucial factor for poverty alleviation and boosting economic growth. In order to resolve disputes and effectively use asset, land records are essential.
States at top
Over the years, different Indian states have made significant progress in making their land records digitally available.
Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu rank as the top States in the N-LRSI 2020. Sikkim, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are at the bottom. In the extent of ROR digitalization, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are at the top. With 60-75 points, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu are the five best-performing States on the N-LRSI. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are the six States in the 50-60 point category.
Methodology
The 2020 N-LRSI is based on data collected over 2019-20 on two aspects of the supply of land records: extent of digitalization and quality of land records. The first component, which aims to assess whether a state has made all its land records digitally available, has three dimensions—the text of the land records (also called the record of rights), the official map associated with a land record (also called cadastral maps), and the property registration process.
The second component of the Index aims to assess if the land records are comprehensive and reliable–are ownership details updated as soon as a sale occurs, the extent of joint ownership, type of land use, land area on the record and on the map, and are encumbrances being recorded (other claims on the property such as mortgages and court cases). All these elements are closely connected to land disputes and to the ease with which transactions in land can be completed and legally recorded and then conveniently accessed.
