The central government aims to achieve 100% digitisation of land rights records by December nationwide, which experts believe will stimulate foreign direct investment (FDI) in real estate—a sector often hindered by land acquisition challenges.
Commercial real estate, including offices, logistics, and data centres, is expected to experience more efficient land acquisition processes, while the residential sector is likely to thrive as clearer titles boost mid-range and luxury developments in locations like Gurgaon and Chennai.
“These reforms are crucial for unlocking significant foreign investment and promoting sustained growth in Indian real estate. By digitising records, we can expedite land acquisition for Grade-A office complexes,” stated Anshuman Magazine, chairman & CEO for India, the Middle East, and Africa at CBRE. “Digitising land records has become essential, not optional. While some states have progressed at varying rates, the overarching need for digitisation across India is clear.”
As of now, 372.12 million, or 99.8%, of available land records have been digitised, according to recent data from the land resources department. Additionally, 97.3% of cadastral maps—detailed government documentation illustrating property boundaries and ownership, which are vital for real estate transactions—have also been digitalised. A major portion of revenue courts (89.7%) and all sub-registrar offices nationwide have been computerised as well.
“For land-intensive sectors like warehousing, township projects, and data centres, land acquisition remains the greatest challenge. In most cases, unless the government or authorities sell or lease land, titles are disputed, ownership is poorly documented, or mutation is incomplete. This complicates the acquisition process, making it costly, lengthy, and prone to litigation,” said Gagan Randev, executive director at India Sotheby’s International Realty.
The digitisation of records clarifies title ownership.
“Having digitised records will not only simplify land transactions but will also boost investor confidence. Increased transparency and easier verification will diminish disputes, hasten project completions, and foster a more favorable environment for both domestic and foreign investments,” noted Pradeep Aggarwal, founder and chairman of Signature Global (India) Ltd.
Institutional investments in India’s real estate sector reached ₹17,530 crore ($2.05 billion) during the June quarter, marking a 67% increase compared to the previous quarter, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Hence, institutional investment for the first half of 2025 totalled $3.3 billion, down from the $7.1 billion recorded for all of 2024.
“We anticipate this initiative will significantly increase FDI inflows, as global investors prioritize regulatory clarity and transaction ease,” remarked Ashish Sharma, assistant vice president of operations at Brahma Group.
Following a sluggish start to the year, foreign investors accounted for 68% of the market share in the June quarter, compared to 32% from domestic investors.
During the April-June period, the residential sector attracted the most interest, securing 24% of the inflows, followed by the office sector at 22% and retail at 19%. Mumbai led with 42% of the investment, followed by Kolkata (19%) and the Delhi-National Capital Region (16%). Alternative investment funds have started deploying capital raised in 2024.
Magazine emphasized that the digitisation of land records will establish a transparent, tamper-proof system, thereby mitigating fraud and aligning India with global benchmarks like Singapore’s e-services and Estonia’s e-Land Register.
