Odisha To Introduce QR Codes On Land Records

Odisha will introduce QR codes on land ownership documents to enable instant digital verification of property details. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced that each land patta, or Record of Rights (RoR), will soon carry a QR code providing comprehensive information about ownership, location and transaction history.

The initiative aims to enhance transparency, curb fraud and streamline property transactions across the state.

Instant Access To Property History

Once implemented, scanning the QR code on a land document will display the property’s full profile, including its location, parcel map and complete purchase history. Currently, buyers rely on encumbrance certificates (ECs) issued by tehsil offices, which provide records of registered transactions for only the past 30 years.

The QR-based system will offer historical data beyond the 30-year EC window, helping prospective buyers verify ownership status more efficiently and reducing the scope for fraudulent sales.

Tamper-Proof Digital Records

Officials stated that the new RoRs will be digitally generated and tamper-proof. Any unauthorised modification to land records will trigger alerts to revenue inspectors and tehsildars.

The updated RoRs will include details such as land classification, usage, irrigation status and adjoining plot information, along with a parcel map showing dimensions and boundaries.

Integration Under DILRMP

The initiative forms part of the Centre’s Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), a centrally funded scheme launched in 2016. Odisha has largely digitised its land records, and the QR-coded pattas represent the next phase of reform.

A comprehensive land survey will also be undertaken to assess government and private land holdings. The survey will integrate high-resolution satellite imagery, maps from national survey agencies and cadastral revenue data onto a unified GIS platform.

Important Facts for Exams

• Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) was launched in 2016.
• Record of Rights (RoR) contains ownership and land-use details.
• Encumbrance Certificate (EC) shows registered transactions such as sale or mortgage.
• GIS platforms integrate spatial and textual land data.

Unified GIS-Based Land Database

Each land parcel will be mapped digitally as a closed polygon identified by a unique plot number, linked to the RoR database. A QR scan will provide access to both the digital map and textual land record details.

The reform is expected to strengthen land governance, improve accountability and simplify verification processes for buyers and government authorities alike.