India Leads Global Land Governance Dialogue with SVAMITVA-Focused Workshop

The workshop is designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas, innovations, and policy strategies among countries grappling with land administration challenges.

In a groundbreaking step towards shaping the future of global land governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, inaugurated the first-ever International Workshop on Land Governance at the Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA), Gurugram. This unique six-day global event—organized under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme—has attracted over 40 senior officials and experts from 22 countries across Africa, Latin America, and South-East Asia, cementing India’s position as a leader in land rights innovation and rural transformation.

A Visionary Platform for Global Cooperation

The workshop is designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas, innovations, and policy strategies among countries grappling with land administration challenges. This strategic event aligns strongly with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to modernize rural India by leveraging technology and securing land tenure for millions through the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme.

The inaugural session featured the presence of high-level dignitaries including:

• Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• Shri Viraj Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
• Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• Shri Ramesh Chander Bidhan, Director General, HIPA
• Shri Smit Shah, President, Drone Federation of India

SVAMITVA Scheme: Empowering Rural India, Inspiring the World

In his keynote address, Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani emphasized the transformative impact of SVAMITVA, describing it as “a comprehensive tool for rural empowerment, enabling property rights, financial inclusion, and socio-economic development.” Highlighting the project's scale, he shared that over 3.17 lakh villages have been mapped, spanning 67,000 sq. km and identifying an asset base worth Rs.132 lakh crore.

“SVAMITVA is not just a mapping exercise; it’s a catalyst for systemic change. We are proud to share our journey and eager to collaborate with global partners to enhance land governance worldwide,” Shri Lohani remarked.

He highlighted the use of cutting-edge geospatial and drone technologies, which have dramatically increased the accuracy and efficiency of rural mapping in India. These innovations, he noted, could serve as scalable models for countries facing similar challenges in rural land administration.

Diplomacy Meets Development: South-South Cooperation in Action

Representing the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Viraj Singh framed the workshop as a pivotal example of India’s commitment to South-South Cooperation. “This initiative is a platform to build partnerships rooted in shared development challenges. Land governance is foundational to stability, growth, and sustainability,” he said.

He underscored the critical role played by the ITEC programme in advancing India’s diplomatic outreach and fostering technical collaboration through practical capacity-building initiatives.

Land Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals

Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, MoPR, emphasized how land rights directly influence India’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those related to poverty alleviation, gender equality, and sustainable land use. “SVAMITVA has unlocked economic potential by formalizing property rights and enabling access to credit and government benefits,” he said.

Shri Smit Shah, from the Drone Federation of India, presented India’s rapidly growing drone ecosystem. He pointed to policy reforms, private sector innovations, and government support as driving forces behind India’s global leadership in drone-based land solutions.

Innovations on Display: Geospatial and Drone Technology Exhibition

A major attraction on the inaugural day was the high-tech exhibition showcasing next-gen tools in land governance. Attendees explored:

• Precision drone mapping platforms
• 3D geospatial analytics
• Survey-grade drones with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) accuracy
• Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and rover systems
• Integrated GIS-based land administration systems

Participants interacted directly with hardware and software solutions through live drone flight planning demonstrations, data processing simulations, and hands-on training sessions, offering them a real-world look into how India conducts high-resolution rural mapping.

Knowledge Sharing and Technical Sessions

The day featured intensive technical sessions covering:

• The methodology and execution of SVAMITVA
• Modern approaches to land records digitization
• Resource mobilization for land management reforms
• Community engagement strategies in rural property rights
• Global case studies on land administration from participating nations

International delegates—representing nations like Colombia, Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Fiji, Ghana, Vietnam, and more—shared insights into their own land governance frameworks and the challenges they face, such as outdated cadastral maps, legal ambiguities, and lack of technological infrastructure.

A Global Learning Ecosystem

As the workshop unfolds over the next few days, participants will engage in:

• Field visits to observe real-time drone-based mapping in rural areas
• A visit to the Survey of India lab for technical insights
• Continued interactive sessions with policy experts, tech vendors, and local administrators

These immersive experiences aim to equip international stakeholders with actionable strategies and adaptable tools to address land governance in their own contexts.

 

With the launch of this international workshop, India has positioned itself not just as a technology adopter but as a global knowledge provider in the field of land governance. The SVAMITVA model stands as a beacon of innovation, inclusion, and international cooperation—charting a path that many other developing nations are keen to explore and emulate.

As global challenges around land ownership, disputes, and sustainability grow, this landmark event sets the tone for a collaborative, tech-enabled, and future-ready approach to land governance.