Government Clarifies: Blockchain Not in DILRMP

In a recent official statement, the Government of India confirmed that blockchain technology is not being used under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) — a central initiative launched to digitize and modernize land records across the country.

Responding to a formal query, the Minister of State for Rural Development stated that no blockchain-based pilot or integration is currently part of the DILRMP framework. The program, fully centrally funded since 2016, is focused on digitizing land ownership records, integrating textual and spatial data, and improving transparency — but not through blockchain.

India Confirms Blockchain Is Not Part of DILRMP
 India Confirms Blockchain Is Not Part of DILRMP


What is DILRMP?

The Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) is one of India’s flagship digital governance initiatives. Its goals include:

        Computerization of land records

        Digitization of cadastral maps and surveys

        Integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

        Linking of land records with Aadhaar and property tax data


However, blockchain technology has been officially excluded from this modernization effort.


What About Blockchain's Potential in Land Records?

Blockchain has long been seen as a game-changer in land management due to its benefits like:

        Immutable records (can’t be tampered with)
       
        Transparency (all transactions visible on a public ledger)

        Reduced fraud in property ownership and title transfers

Some states like Telangana have piloted blockchain-based land record systems on a small scale, showing promising results. However, at the national level, India has not adopted this technology for land reforms, citing the following challenges:

        Legal complexities

        Infrastructure limitations in rural areas

        Lack of uniform standards

        Integration difficulties with existing legacy systems


So What is Being Focused On?

Rather than blockchain, DILRMP is focusing on:

        Updating textual records (Record of Rights, Tenancy, Crops)

        Digitizing physical maps and integrating satellite imagery

        Using GIS mapping to overlay ownership and land use

        Improving service delivery through digitized land ownership


What Does This Mean for the Future?

While blockchain is not part of the present roadmap, that doesn’t mean it’s completely off the table. Many experts believe that India might eventually explore hybrid models, once legal, infrastructure, and interoperability issues are resolved.

For now, though, the government has drawn a clear line: DILRMP will proceed without blockchain.


Humanized FAQs – Explained Simply

Is blockchain being used in India’s land record system?

Not on a national level. The government has officially confirmed that blockchain is not part of DILRMP. However, some state-level pilots (like Telangana) have explored it.


Why isn’t blockchain being used if it’s secure?

While blockchain is secure, it’s also complex and costly to implement nationwide. There are legal and infrastructure challenges that make it impractical at scale for now.


What is the Indian government focusing on instead?

The focus is on digitizing old paper records, integrating maps, and improving land access services using GIS and cloud-based systems, but not blockchain.


Could blockchain be used in the future?

Possibly. Experts believe that once the legal framework and infrastructure improve, blockchain could be phased in gradually or used in select areas like property transfers or land title verification.


What states have tried blockchain for land records?

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra have run pilot projects, but they are not part of the DILRMP. These are local experiments, not central policy.


Conclusion

Despite growing global interest in blockchain, the Indian government is taking a cautious, pragmatic approach. As of 2025, blockchain has been excluded from the national land digitization strategy. The focus remains on more traditional — and proven — methods of improving land governance.