Second Batch of NAKSHA Phase 2 Capacity Building Programme to Start on June 16

The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Union Ministry of Rural Development will kick off the second batch of Phase 2 of its flagship National Geospatial Knowledge‑Based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA) Capacity Building Programme on Monday, June 16. This marks a major step forward in strengthening the capacities of urban and district-level officers in using advanced geospatial techniques to survey and document urban land.

Over the course of a week, participants will attend intensive training sessions at four prominent National Centres of Excellence:

• Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) in Pune
• Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Mysuru
• Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) in Chandigarh
• Northeast Region Centre of Excellence in Guwahati

The training will open with a virtual inauguration by DoLR Secretary Manoj Joshi at 10:00 A.M. on June 16. A total of 128 officers from 74 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have been selected for this round. These participants include both municipal and district officials who will enhance their skills in cutting-edge land survey methods—a critical step toward improving the accuracy and accessibility of urban land records in their jurisdictions.

This second batch builds on the momentum from Phase 1 and the first batch of Phase 2, which equipped more than 300 master trainers and ULB officers with new geospatial capabilities. The cumulative impact of this training is expected to significantly accelerate the adoption of modern survey technologies at the municipal level.

Core Training Components

The week-long programme will focus on a comprehensive curriculum that includes:

• GNSS‑based surveying: Techniques for capturing precise geographic coordinates using satellite systems
• Electronic Total Station (ETS) operations: Skills in measuring distances, angles, and coordinates for detailed mapping
• Web‑GIS applications: Hands-on training to create, analyse, and present geospatial data digitally
• Land parcel mapping: Methods to ensure accurate delineation of property boundaries
• Legal and administrative frameworks: Understanding the regulatory context of urban land records management

This balanced approach combines practical fieldwork with policy-oriented instruction, equipping participants to lead modernisation efforts in their ULBs.

The NAKSHA programme is a cornerstone of the DoLR’s strategy to digitise and modernise urban land records across India. Launched initially as a pilot project in 157 ULBs covering 27 States and 3 Union Territories, the initiative brings together expertise and technology from several key agencies.

Key Collaborators

• Survey of India: National mapping agency
• National Informatics Centre Services (NICSI): Digital infrastructure partner
• Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSeDC)
• Five National Centres of Excellence: Including programme host institutes in Pune, Mysuru, Chandigarh, Guwahati, and others

This collaborative framework ensures that modules are technically robust and aligned with national digitisation goals.

1. Enhanced Accuracy
   Traditional land records have often suffered from discrepancies due to outdated surveying methods. GNSS and ETS enable sub-meter level accuracy, increasing trust and reducing disputes.
2. Digital Accessibility
   Web-GIS opens access to land maps and records via online platforms—transforming the way residents, planners, and officials interact with urban land data.
3. Legal Certainty
   Proper parcel mapping backed by a legal framework ensures clarity in ownership and boundaries—crucial for urban governance and property transactions.
4. Scalability
   By training master trainers, DoLR is building internal capacity within states and ULBs to continue modernisation efforts independently.

Training at four strategically located centres ensures geographic diversity and inclusivity:

• Pune connects officers from western and central India
• Mysuru serves participants from southern states
• Chandigarh caters to northern and northwestern ULBs
• Guwahati addresses needs in the Northeast, a region often underserved in land record reform

This structure promotes balanced development and technical parity across regions.

What’s Next After the Training

Following the week of intensive workshops, participants will:

• Return to their ULBs with practical skills and digital tools
• Begin deploying GNSS/ETS field surveys for parcel mapping
• Create and publish updated land records via online GIS platforms
• Train additional municipal and district staff, leveraging their master-trainer role

This approach creates a cascading effect, with trained officers becoming local champions for land-record modernisation.

Challenges and Road Ahead

Despite the positive developments, some constraints remain:

• Logistics of deploying GNSS and ETS equipment in areas with rugged terrain or limited infrastructure
• Integration of new survey data into existing municipal systems
• Need for consistent funding to sustain and scale training efforts beyond initial batches

DoLR plans to address these through ongoing technical support, annual refresher courses, and stable funding models involving both central and state governments.

The second batch of Phase 2 of the NAKSHA Capacity Building Programme, which starts on June 16, underscores the Department of Land Resources’ focus on building technical capacity at the grassroots level. By training 128 officers from 74 ULBs in modern survey technology and legal frameworks, the initiative takes a decisive step toward digitising urban land records nationwide. This effort will improve accuracy, transparency, and governance in land management. The programme’s regional distribution—spanning Pune, Mysuru, Chandigarh, and Guwahati—ensures equitable access and underscores the government’s intent to embed geospatial excellence across India’s urban centres.