ECO HOMES: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR MODERN LIVING

             The concept of an Eco-house (or Eco-home), an environmentally low-impact home designed and built using materials and technology that reduces its carbon footprint and lowers its energy needs, is an upcoming and intriguing concept. Presently, around 40% of the carbon footprint is generated by construction and buildings industry due to various processes like lighting, cooling, and heating of building materials (outlook India), it is imperative to explore concepts like Eco-homes that supports in meeting sustainability needs such as conserving water, reducing wastes, controlling emission, generating energy, and supporting its conservation, thereby reducing building’s carbon footprint. The paper presents and discusses one of the success stories of such eco-home and elaborates its building service system.

            The evident results of climate change and global warming including erratic weather changes have made people more aware about the impacts of their activities on nature and its cycles. Enhancing awareness has led to many global trends to work towards more sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. Energy efficient and sustainable homes is one among many practices that have gained much popularity in recent years. Eco homes, also known as sustainable homes, offer a practical solution that enables people to live in a manner that is both comfortable and environmentally sustainable.

               The philosophy behind eco homes is that one can live a comfortable lifestyle without degrading the environment. Eco homes are built with the aim of reducing the impact that homes have on the environment. Unlike traditional homes, which are designed primarily for comfort and aesthetics, eco homes are designed to incorporate sustainable materials and techniques that reduce energy consumption. They offer an opportunity to live in surroundings that are free from toxins and waste, thereby ensuring a healthy living environment. Moreover, eco homes offer significant energy savings, which translates into lower utility costs. With the use of sustainable materials, eco homes are also able to minimize construction waste and reduce the need for maintenance. Eco homes are designed to utilize natural resources, such as sunlight and wind, in order to provide cooling, heating, and lighting. Some of the common techniques used in the construction of eco homes are:

• Passive Solar Design: Passive solar design makes use of the sun’s natural energy to provide heating and cooling. This design incorporates features such as large windows, insulated walls, and a well-ventilated roof, all of which are aimed at regulating the temperature inside the home. 
• Insulation: Thorough insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors plays a critical role in the energy efficiency of eco homes. Insulation minimizes energy loss and ensures that the home stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 
• Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater harvesting entails the collection of rainwater for use in various domestic purposes such as toilet flushing and irrigation. By utilizing rainwater for domestic purposes, eco homes are able to conserve water and minimize the need for expensive water supply methods.  
• Use of Sustainable Materials: The use of sustainable materials such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recycled glass is a hallmark of eco homes. These materials are eco-friendly and durable, making them an ideal choice for a sustainable home.

IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE ECOHOUSE 

The house features an open plan design, allowing natural light to flood in and creating a feeling of spaciousness. The interiors are decorated with a minimalistic approach, with neutral colors and simple furnishings that spotlight the unique architectural design of the house. The living room features floor to ceiling windows that offer unobstructed views of the gardens and outdoors. The furniture used indoors is majorly made from cane or bamboo with cotton upholstery, and the curtains used are made of jute, which can be used for composting once its designated life is over. The sloping roof of the house  ensures that the indoor temperature is maintained using the stack effect - where the hot air rises and exits through the highest point of the roof and is replaced by the cool air in the lower habitable level. The indoor temperature is also regulated using the indoor ponds which offer a way to cool the interiors by adding moisture in the air.

1. Zero power

• Solar and wind power – The roof angle is selected in such a way that solar panel can be laid directly on it without having any fabricated structure which looks artificial. The Solar Panel capacity is 7.5 KW. A hybrid system installed for producing enough electricity throughout the year. One small windmill is also installed to cater to the house’s needs during monsoon when sky is cloudy, and the Solar output is lesser. The windmill runs almost 24 hours a day during monsoons due to the wind conditions. A part of the solar power is stored in the battery and the rest of it is fed back into the grid. 
• Passive solar principles- The residence is designed with passive solar principles, which ensures that the home remains cool in the summer and warm in the winter, in turn reducing the electricity requirement. The large windows oriented towards the south captures maximum sunlight, while the roof is designed to provide shading during the summer months.

2. Sustainable materials

One of the most unique features of the villa is the use of ecofriendly materials. The house is constructed using locally sourced materials such as stone, brick, and concrete, which are known for their durability and sustainability. Mr. Patel has also made use of recycled materials such as reclaimed wood, which adds a touch of rustic charm to the house. The walls of the house are constructed using stone and exposed bricks and designed using a type of wall construction known as rattrap bond. In this type of wall construction, there is a hollow cavity that provides insulation to the indoor environment from the outdoor environment. Certain intricate elements such as adding holes in the walls to accommodate bird nests make the residence even more appealing. Mr. Patel proudly calls them as “Living walls”.

3. Water requirement 

Water requirement is fulfilled by capturing the water from the rains that fall on the roof, and the water is stored in tanks that are placed above living room, which ensures that the water comes down through natural gravity and maintains adequate water pressure. The excess water, after passing through three-chambered filter using sand, gravel and charcoal medium respectively, is stored away in an underground tank of 2,00,000 lakh liter capacity for domestic consumption. These three chambered filters are constructed with RCC. The first chamber comprises of a SS sieve over bed of gravel which will remove leaf and other such impurities. Second chamber has wood charcoal under a layer of sand while the third chamber again has SS sieve again which does not let sand flow into the tank. Then there is a system of groundwater recharging as the water falling on the rooftop is either collected in the water tank or goes into the earth after passing through the filter comprising of bricks and gravel.

                Drinking water requirement is met by using a “five-pot” water purification system, where the water is made to seep through five pots which have limestone chips, coconut shell charcoal, fine sand in the second, third and fourth pot. In the fifth pot, which has drinkable water, a silver coin is placed. This system naturally removes off impurities such as sediments and e-coli bacteria besides adding crucial minerals and ensure that the water is fit for drinking. 

Tirupati’s Trash Turns Trendsetter

Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, Tirupati Municipal Corporation has scripted an inspiring story of circular economy through its Comprehensive Upcycling Initiative, where waste doesn’t end its journey, it begins a new one. Guided by the belief of Swachh Aadat se Swachh Bharat, the initiative blends swachhata, compassion, and creativity to build a clean and green city.

 

At the heart of this initiative is the concept of upcycling - transforming discarded materials into products of higher value instead of sending them to landfills. To make this vision practical and participatory, Tirupati introduced specially designed upcycling drop boxes, seamlessly linked with permanent RRR Centres.

These drop boxes feature separate chambers for old books, clothes, and footwear, ensuring 100% source-level segregation. This smart design eliminates secondary sorting, preserves material quality, and makes responsible disposal easy for citizens. Strategically installed in RWAs, apartment complexes, and gated communities, the drop boxes tap into areas with high potential for reusable items, maximizing both quantity and quality of collection. A weekly, scheduled collection system with dedicated vehicles ensures smooth transportation of materials to the RRR Centres.

At the RRR Centres, materials are sorted into usable and non-usable categories. Items in good condition find meaningful second lives, clothes and footwear are distributed to old age homes, orphanages, the homeless, and economically weaker sections, while books help create libraries in government and municipal schools, nurturing reading habits and learning.

Damaged materials are not discarded either. Clothes are handed over to Self Help Group (SHG) members, who, after skill training supported by the Ministry of Textiles and the Textiles Committee, Mumbai, convert them into eco-friendly products like bags and doormats, creating sustainable livelihoods. Footwear is either locally repaired and redistributed or sent to a Bengaluru-based upcycling unit for recycling.

Used clothes are being upcycled through SHGs into value-added products, including 275 doormats, 1,025 foot mats, 2,500 cloth bags, and 0.5 tonnes of automobile cleaning cloths. These products have been successfully sold in the open market, supporting livelihoods and promoting sustainable waste management. As part of Tirupati’s circular economy journey, old books are being given a second life by strengthening libraries in municipal schools across the city, nurturing a culture of learning among young minds. At the same time, discarded footwear is channelled to authorised footwear factories for reuse, transforming waste into economic value while promoting sustainability and resource efficiency.

With enthusiastic public participation, the initiative has reduced landfill waste, strengthened social welfare, empowered SHGs, and fostered environmental responsibility among citizens. Through this thoughtful and inclusive approach, Tirupati is steadily moving towards becoming a garbage-free city, proving that when clean habits become a way of life, cities don’t just manage waste, they transform it.

Urban Development Shield – Urban Challenge Fund

Under the new scheme announced by the Centre for the development of facilities in cities and towns, at least 50% of the cost of projects will have to be raised from the market. These funds can be raised through the issuance of municipal bonds, bank loans, and PPP mode. The remaining share will be provided by state governments and urban local bodies. According to the 2025 estimates, the scheme will be applicable to all cities with a population of 10 lakhs and above, state capitals, major industrial cities with a population of more than one lakh, and all urban local bodies in hilly/northeastern states. In total, all cities will be covered.

@ Projects will be selected in a transparent and challenge-based manner. Proposals that have a greater impact on the life of the city and have priority in reforms will be given priority.

@ Private participation will be encouraged by setting risk-sharing rules and benchmarks for civil services provided to the people.

Loan repayment guarantee for small cities:

The Centre will guarantee the repayment of loans taken by small cities in the Northeast and hilly regions and other states with a population of less than one lakh to enable them to raise financial resources from the markets. For this, a special fund of Rs. 5,000 crore is being set up. The Central Government will provide a guarantee for the first loan taken by small cities up to Rs. 7 crore, or up to 70% of the loan taken (whichever is less). If the first loan taken is repaid, a guarantee will be provided for subsequent loans up to Rs. 7 crore, or up to 50% of the loan amount. The Centre said that this will enable small cities to raise financial resources from the market to undertake projects up to Rs. 20 crore for the first time and up to Rs. 28 crore for the second time. This will be useful in increasing the lending capacity of 4,223 cities across the country, including tier-II and tier-III cities.

What should be done:

@ Repair and upgrade the legacy infrastructure in cities to meet current needs.
@ Establishment of transit corridors, urban mobility centers, economic corridors
@ Restoration/revitalization of major commercial areas/important heritage centers
@ Redevelopment of brownfield areas to meet current needs
@ Development of greenfield/semi-greenfield and major infrastructure to transform the city into a growth hub
@ Modernization of sewage and rainwater harvesting systems. Construction of water bridges.
@ Priority for solid and liquid waste management. Removal of hilly dumping yards. Integration of waste treatment can be done. 

What reforms should be brought in:

Local bodies should undertake several reforms to get assistance under the Urban Challenge Fund. The main reforms to be implemented include market and financial reforms to enhance governance, digitalization, and debt repayment capacity. The efficiency of public services and consumer services should be increased. Reforms should be undertaken in urban planning, housing, and job creation. Green infrastructure should be provided.

@ Projects undertaken with these funds will have to determine 'key performance indicators' and complete them within a specific time frame. Whether they have been completed within the specified time frame according to specific standards or not will be checked by a third party.
@  The central government has stated that there is a possibility of large amounts of private investment under the scheme, thereby strengthening urban governance. It is believed that this will enable cities to be adapted to future needs in line with national development priorities.

Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013)

The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj released a report on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (RFCTLARR Act, 2013).

The Report evaluated the implementation and effectiveness of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. 

RFCTLARR Act aims to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken away, bring transparency to process of acquisition of land to setup factories, infrastructural projects & ensures rehabilitation of affected. 

RFCTLARR Act replaced the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

Key Provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013:

Prevents arbitrary acquisitions	Defines “public purpose” to prevent arbitrary land acquisitions, which includes infrastructure projects, urbanisation, and industrial corridors.
Fair Compensation	Provided for compensation up to four times the market value in rural areas and twice the market value of land in urban areas.
Consent requirement	80% consent of affected families for private company projects and 70% consent in the case of PPP projects.
Return of unutilized land	If land is not used for its intended purpose within five years, it must be returned to the original owners or placed in a land bank.
Protection of Farmers’ Land	Special safeguards for multi-cropped and agricultural land; acquisition only as a last resort.
Protection for Scheduled Areas	No acquisition in Scheduled Areas violates laws protecting indigenous land rights.
Social Impact Assessment (SIA)	Before any land acquisition, the government must undertake an SIA study. The consent process must be conducted alongside the SIA.
Rehabilitation and Resettlement	Rehabilitation and Resettlement, which includes entitlements for affected families e.g. house, Financial assistance for livelihood loss, employment etc.
Institutional Setup	Provides for the establishment of    National and State-level Monitoring Committee for Rehabilitation and Resettlement    Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Authority (LARRA)- Provides speedy disposal of disputes
Exemption	Notably, certain projects, such as those related to defence, railways, and atomic energy, are exempt from the Act; however, compensation and R&R provisions still apply.

Key Issues in the Implementation of the Act:

• Superficial SIA/EIA: Social and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are sometimes carried out as formalities with reports pre-designed to favour acquisition. 
• Failure of National Monitoring Committee (NMC): The NMC has failed to quell discontent in large projects like the Ken-Betwa Link Project and Polavaram Irrigation Project. 
• Faulty Implementation in Scheduled Areas: Violations occur despite statutory safeguards, including land undervaluation, superficial Gram Sabha consultations, and exclusion of vulnerable groups. 
• Non-Compliance with PESA Rules: Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA) regarding consultation are not being followed strictly in Scheduled Areas. 
• Violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Forest land is acquired without settling rights. 
• Land Classification Manipulation: Converting Greenfield land into Brownfield and reclassifying rural land into urban areas, particularly within infrastructure projects such as Bharat Mala. 
• Faulty Rehabilitation: Cash is disbursed before a demarcated and service-ready relocation site exists; land for land is offered only on paper or of inferior quality; etc. 
• Structural Failures: More than a decade after the Act's enactment, many States have yet to establish the mandated LARRAs which delays justice for affected families. 

Key Recommendations:

• Strengthening Role of Gram Sabha: Make Gram Sabha consent mandatory for all land acquisitions and empower it to veto proposals which are contrary to local development plans or community interests.
•  Adopting a "Livelihood Value" Approach: Compensation should transition from a simple cash land value to a "livelihood value" that accounts for the loss of access to forests, water bodies, and community assets. 
• Integration of LARR and FRA: Loss of customary and community forest use rights should be explicitly treated as economic displacement, requiring full rehabilitation. 
• Central Monitoring of Classification: Establish a dedicated Central Monitoring and Grievance Redressal Mechanism to oversee land classification processes.
• Innovative Benefit sharing models: In addition to existing compensation and R&R entitlements, mechanism should guarantee either a share of project equity (held through a statutory trust at the Gram Sabha) or a percentage of gross project revenues, whichever is higher. 
• Strengthening Rehabilitation and Resettlement for Displaced Tribal Families: No displacement until the replacement site or agricultural land is surveyed, pegged, and soil-tested, core services are functional, etc.
• Digital Transparency: All acquisition-related documents—including SIA reports, compensation details, and R&R status—should be published on an official transparency portal 
• Other:  Urgent establishment of LARRAs in all States and UTs.  The Department of Land Resources must ensure both EIA and SIA are strictly followed to effectively mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts.

The RFCTLARR Act, 2013, is a progressive law, but poor implementation, weak monitoring, and dilution of community safeguards have limited its effectiveness. The Committee emphasises empowering Gram Sabhas, ensuring strict compliance with PESA and FRA, and strengthening rehabilitation and oversight mechanisms to make land acquisition fair and people-centric.

LAND REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN INDIA

                Supreme Court in Samiullah v. State of Bihar case has called for a fundamental reform in country's land registration and titling system.

>  The Supreme Court of India struck down Bihar's rule making mutation proof mandatory for property registration, reaffirming that registration records transactions, not ownership. 

> It reiterated that document registration under the Registration Act, 1908, only records a transaction, while mutation (updating revenue records) is a separate process that doesn't confer title. 

> The Court criticized the "bureaucratic loop" created by outdated land records in India and suggesting a national push for modern, digital, conclusive titling to establish clear ownership.

Land Registration System in India:

             Land is a “State subject” and registration of deeds is a concurrent list subject under the Schedule VII of the Constitution. 

Issues with the existing Land Registration System in India:

• Outdated legal framework: India's property transaction system continues to operate under colonial framework governed by century-old statutes i.e. Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Indian Stamp Act, 1899, and Registration Act, 1908. 
• No Conclusive Title: Registration of sale deed under Registration Act does not guarantee ownership instead it only serves as a public record of transaction having presumptive evidentiary value and not conclusive proof of title. 
• Litigation burden: Fake and fraudulent property documents, land encroachments, verification delays, system of presumptive title through registration, and fragmented state-level procedures leads to 66 percent of all civil litigation. 
• Administrative problems: Physical presence of buyer, seller, and two witnesses for verification, authentication and recording at sub-registrar offices makes land registration cumbersome and time-consuming. o Moreover, since land is a state subject, procedures differ across States, resulting in fragmentation and lack of uniformity. 
• Incomplete Digitisation: Programmes like Digital India Land Records Modernization (DILRMP) and National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) digitise records but do not correct faulty and unclear titles.

Supreme Court’s Call for Systemic Reformation: Conclusive Titling and Technology: 

Conclusive Title: Court has directed the Law Commission of India (LCI) for creating a committee with State participation to examine and integrate property registration regime with conclusive titling. 

Restructuring old laws: LCI should prepare a report on restructuring century-old colonial-era laws governing property transactions, including Transfer of Property Act (1882), Registration Act (1908), and Stamp Act (1899), to align them with modern technology. 

Synchronization: Align registration with real-time land-holding records, ensure mutation records, survey and settlement operations are timely and accurate so that the registration reflects actual holding.

Regulatory Authority: Establish a permanent regulatory body for registration offices to build institutional memory and enable real-time assessment and upgradation of the registration establishment.

• Blockchain Technology based Land Titling:  It can create a secure, transparent, tamper-proof land registration system, where each record becomes part of cryptographically linked ledger that cannot be altered without detection. Thus, enhancing integrity of title records.  

• Blockchain is a decentralized, immutable digital ledger that securely records transactions across a network of computers (nodes).

• It organizes data into "blocks" that are cryptographically linked in a "chain," making records transparent, tamper-proof, and verifiable without a central authority like a bank or government. 

• It could integrate cadastral maps, survey data and revenue records into a single, verifiable and accessible digital framework, thereby reducing fraud, improving traceability and enhancing public trust in land ownership.

A future-ready land governance architecture anchored in conclusive titling, harmonised laws, accurate land records and emerging technologies like blockchain, can significantly reduce disputes, enhance ease of transactions and restore public trust. Such reforms are essential not only for securing property rights but also for unlocking land’s potential as a driver of economic growth, urban planning and social justice.

INDIA IS FAR MORE URBAN IN ECONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL TERMS THAN OFFICIAL DEFINITIONS SUGGEST: ECONOMIC SURVEY 2025-26

 “India’s cities are not merely places of residence but function as critical economic infrastructure. Density and proximity generate agglomeration economies that raise productivity, deepen labour markets, and enable innovation. The economic role of cities is therefore central to India’s growth trajectory,” said the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament today by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

Economic Survey 2025-26 underlined that India is already deeply urban in economic terms, with the majority of its national output generated in cities and in urban areas. The task now is to make that urbanisation work better for citizens in tangible and intangible ways.

The survey positioned cities as economic assets that require deliberate investment and strategic planning. It stated that recognisation of cities as economic infrastructure is a necessary first step toward aligning public policy, fiscal priorities, and planning frameworks with India’s development trajectory.

CITIES ARE GROWTH ENGINES

According to Economic Survey 2025-26, India is far more urban in economic and functional terms than official definitions suggest. Based on satellite data from the Global Human Settlements Layer (GHSL) of the Group on Earth Observations at the European Commission, India was 63 per cent urban in 2015, which is nearly double the urbanisation rate reported in the 2011 Census.

Economic Survey maintained that the World Bank also estimated that by 2036, India’s towns and cities will be home to 600 million people, or 40 per cent of the population, up from 31 per cent in 2011, with urban areas contributing almost 70 per cent to GDP.

MOBILITY

Economic Survey 2025-26 stated that India has materially expanded mass rapid transit system over the last decade. As of 2025, around 1,036 km of Metro/RRTS are operational across around 24 cities, with further corridors under construction.

Economic Survey also mentioned that the Government has launched PM e-Bus Sewa to strengthen city bus operations with 10,000 e-buses on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, backed by ₹20,000 crore central assistance and a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) to assure operator cashflows. During the FY 25, 7,293 e-buses have been approved across 14 States and 4 UTs, ₹983.75 crore sanctioned for depot and behind the meter power infrastructure, and ₹437.5 crore has already been disbursed

To further improve outcomes, Economic Survey 2025-26 suggested augmentation and digitisation of bus fleets, finance-first e-bus deployment, mainstreaming last-mile and shared mobility, operationalisation of Transit-oriented Development (TOD) and value capture around stations.   

URBAN CLEANLINESS

Economic Survey 2025-26 highlighted that over the past decade, the central government has undertaken one of the most ambitious and largest sanitation and waste management programmes globally under the Swachh Bharat Mission -Urban (SBM–U), complemented by investments under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0. These measures have yielded visible gains in sanitation outcomes, with the most notable being the elimination of open defecation across all cities.

Door-to-door collection of municipal solid waste (MSW), which was negligible in 2014–15, has expanded to 98 per cent of urban wards by 2025–26, supported by a fleet of over 2.5 lakh waste collection vehicles nationwide, according to the survey.

CITY UPGRADATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

The Survey stated that as of 9 May 2025, cities under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM)  had completed a substantial majority of planned projects — including smart roads, cycle tracks, command and control centres, upgraded water and sewerage networks, and vibrant public spaces with over 90 per cent of the roughly 8,067 projects completed and nearly ₹1.64 lakh crore invested.

The Government’s interventions to support affordable housing in urban areas including direct tax and GST benefits, inclusion in priority sector lending and provision of infrastructure status, amongst others. Under the two phases of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), a total of 122.06 lakh houses have been sanctioned, of which 96.02 lakh have been completed/delivered to the beneficiaries across the country as on 24.11.2025.

Survey explained that the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) has played a central role in restoring and strengthening the livelihoods of urban street vendors (SV).

The Survey stated that aligning mandates, clarifying ownership of outcomes, and insulating routine enforcement from ad-hoc intervention are therefore central to making rule certainty credible in everyday urban governance.

PLANNING, GOVERNANCE AND FINANCING

The Government of India has taken a series of concerted efforts to address the financing requirements of city and urban development. The Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF), announced in the Union Budget 2023–24 with an initial outlay of ₹10,000 crore, was designed as a revolving fund routed through financial institutions to support Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities that lack creditworthiness but have viable infrastructure projects, said the Economic Survey 2025-26.

The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament today proposed that every million-plus city should be required to prepare a statutory 20-year City Spatial and Economic Plan, updated every five years, with three non-negotiable elements:

1. a transport network plan,
2. a housing supply plan with annual unit targets, and
3. a land-value capture framework linked to infrastructure corridors.

SYSTEM-BASED CIVIC-SENSE AWARENESS

The survey stated that communication should reinforce predictable systems rather than substitute for them. Simple, local, and repetitive messaging focused on a small set of high-impact behaviours works best when delivered at the point of action.

CONCLUSION

Future urban policy must prioritise system performance over standalone projects—integrating housing, mobility, sanitation, climate resilience, and finance—while designing liveable, climate-ready cities that support inclusion and long-term economic efficiency.

The Economic Survey 2025- 26 said that the promise of building India’s urban future lies in making our cities economically dynamic, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable and institutionally capable.

ECONOMIC SURVEY 2025-26 - URBANISATION: MAKING INDIA’S CITIES WORK FOR ITS CITIZENS

Different Types of Maps - Base Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Cadastral Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Land Use Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Zoning Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Thematic Map

 

Different Types of Maps = Lineament Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Utility Map

 

Different Types of Maps - Environmental Map

 

Different Types of Maps -Physical Map

 

Different Types of Maps -Economic Map

 

World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 — Key Facts

The UN DESA report highlights how rapidly the world is urbanising, with cities becoming the core of global population and economic activity.

Key Highlights:

 45% of the world’s population (≈ 8.2 billion) now lives in cities.

 Number of megacities (10M+ population) rose from 8 in 1975 → 33 in 2025.

 Jakarta is now the most populous city, followed by Dhaka, Tokyo, and New Delhi.

 India-Specific Findings:

 44% of India’s population now lives in towns and cities.

 India, along with six other countries, will add over 500 million new urban residents between 2025–2050 — the largest global increase.

Year- End Review 2025: Department of Land Resources

 Department of Land Resources is implementing two Schemes/ Programmes:

1. Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and
2. Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC- PMKSY)

1. Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP): Achieving Saturation

The Department achieved near-total saturation in the core components of land record digitization, effectively shifting land administration from "in-line" to "online".

• Computerization of RoRs: Completed in 97.27% of villages nationwide.
• Digitization of Maps: Cadastral maps have been digitized for 97.14% of the country.
• Text-Map Integration: A critical milestone where 84.89% of villages have successfully linked their textual Record of Rights (RoRs) with spatial cadastral maps.
• Impact: Citizens in 19 states can now download digitally signed, legally valid land records from home, and banks in 406 districts can verify mortgages online, significantly speeding up credit access.

2. NAKSHA: Revolutionizing Urban Land Records

Addressing the complexities of urban land management, the NAKSHA (National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations) pilot programme made rapid progress in 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

• Aerial Survey: Aerial flying was completed in 116 ULBs (87% of targets), covering ~5,915 sq. km with high-resolution imagery.
• Ground Truthing: Initiated in 72 ULBs, with 100% completion achieved in 21 cities.
• Incentivizing States (SASCI): Under the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2025-26', the Department successfully recommended ₹1,050 Crore in funding to 24 States/UTs that achieved specific NAKSHA milestones.

3. Strategic Launches: Land Stack and Glossary of Revenue Terms

The year concluded with two landmark initiatives launched on 31st December 2025.

• Land Stack: Launched as a pilot in Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu, this GIS-based platform integrates land, ownership, registration, and building data. It enables departments (Revenue, Survey, Registration, Local Bodies) to operate on a unified, interoperable platform, drawing from global best practices.
• Glossary of Revenue Terms (GoRT): To address the linguistic diversity of India's land administration, a glossary was released to harmonize terms like Khasra, Dag, and Pula. It provides meanings in Vernacular, Hindi, English, and Roman scripts to ensure data interoperability without replacing State-specific terminology.

4. ULPIN (Bhu-Aadhaar): A Unique Identity for Land

The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), a 14-digit alphanumeric code based on geo-coordinates, has been established as the "Aadhaar for Land".

• Coverage: As of November 2025, ULPIN has been assigned to over 36 crore land parcels across 29 States and UTs.
• Benefits: It eliminates duplicity, prevents benami transactions, and paves the way for a unified land ecosystem.

5. NGDRS: One Nation, One Registration

The National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) has streamlined property transactions, promoting "Ease of Doing Business".

• Adoption: Implemented in 17 States/UTs, including Punjab, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Integration: 88.6% of Sub-Registrar Offices (SROs) are now integrated with revenue offices, enabling automatic mutation of land records immediately after registration.

6. Policy Reforms and Social Impact

• Gender Column in RoR: In a historic step towards women's empowerment, a mandatory Gender Column was introduced in the Record of Rights. This allows for the generation of gender-disaggregated data to support women-centric policies and targeted benefit delivery.
• Revenue Court Case Management System (RCCMS): To tackle the backlog of land disputes, 22 States have deployed RCCMS. The system offers online filing, real-time tracking, and integration with land records to reflect court orders instantly.
• Land Acquisition (RFCTLARR Act, 2013): The Division continued to enforce fair compensation and rehabilitation standards, ensuring that land acquisition remains humane, participative, and transparent.

7. Institutional Strengthening: Centers of Excellence (CoE)

To sustain these reforms, the Department expanded its network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to six, adding a new institute in Gujarat this year. These centers provide critical training on drone surveys, GIS, and modern land laws.

S.No.	Name of CoE	Jurisdiction (States/UTs)
1	YASHADA, Pune	Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Goa
2	ATI, Mysore	Karnataka, Kerala, TN, AP, Telangana, Puducherry, A&N, Lakshadweep
3	ASSTC, Guwahati	Assam, NE States (Tripura, Manipur, etc.)
4	MGSIPA, Punjab	Punjab, Haryana, HP, J&K, Chandigarh, Ladakh
5	LBSNAA, Mussoorie	UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, Odisha
6	DISRA, Gandhinagar	Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, D&NH, D&D

 

8. Financial Discipline

For FY 2025-26, nearly 60% of the budget was utilized by mid-November, reflecting the accelerated pace of implementation.

 

2. Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC- PMKSY)

 

1. Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY): The scheme has a Central Share of Rs. 8,134 crore for development of rainfed and degraded lands for a period from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The target area of WDC-PMKSY 2.0 (49.50 Lakh ha; corresponding to the Central Share of Rs 8,134 crore) was allocated to States/UTs and Department sanctioned 1220 projects covering an area of 52.93 lakh ha at a total cost of Rs. 12,972.86 crore (Rs. 8,487.97 crore as Central share) to 28 States and UTs (J&K and Ladakh). A cumulative amount of Rs. 5576 crore of Central fund has been released to States/UTs under WDC-PMKSY 2.0.

 

2. The Department has sanctioned additional 70 watershed projects to 10 States based on the performance.

 

3. The achievements have been as follows (01.04.2025 to 30.09.2025) :

• 17,237 Water harvesting structures created / rejuvenated

• 35,882 ha Additional area brought under protective irrigation in hectares

• 4.86 lakh Farmers benefitted

• 13,953 ha Plantation (afforestation/ horticulture) done

 

4. Watershed Yatra: A mass outreach campaign titled “Watershed Yatra” was conducted during February 2025 to May, 2025, to create awareness (जनजागृति) about the Watershed Development activities carried out under WDC-PMKSY 2.0 and to generate people’s participation (जनभागीदारी) in project areas.

 

The Watershed Yatra was organized in 26 states and 2 Union Territories. The activities included bhoomi poojan of new woks, lokarpan of completed works, administering of bhoomi aur jal sanrakshan pledge, shramdaan, watershed ki panchayat, Watershed Janbhagidari Cup etc. The Yatra which was held in 2045 locations saw 10,432 lokarpan, 3,769 bhoomi poojan, shramdan at 1902 locations, plantation of 2,18,661 saplings and an overall footfall of more than 8.5 lakh people. Learning Management System (LMS) for Watershed Development has been developed and participated by 10,557 participants.

 

The Yatra has helped in dramatically increasing people’s participation in the implementation of the scheme.

 

Watershed Janbhagidari Cup

To sustain the momentum of the Watershed Yatra, the Watershed Janbhagidari Cup was launched to foster community ownership and healthy competition among watershed projects.

Over 250 non-profit organisations have been engaged, and about 1,958 works are being undertaken through Janbhagidari at an estimated cost of ₹55.91 crore.

5. Watershed Mahotsav:  On 11th November 2025, a nationwide campaign titled “Watershed Mahotsav” was launched by the Union Minister of Rural Development, in the presence of the Minister of State for Rural Development & Communications, to further strengthen public participation in watershed initiatives. Activities included award distribution under the Watershed Janbhagidari Cup, Lokarpan, Bhumi Pujan, Shramdaan, plantation drives, and the launch of Mission Watershed Punarutthan for repair and maintenance of earlier watershed assets. A Social Media Competition was also introduced to enhance outreach and visibility.

 

6. Springshed Development activities: More than 4595 Springs have been identified by the 15 States for development under WDC-PMKSY 2.0 wherein 3357 Springs have already been rejuvenated resulting in major improvement in discharge volume and period of availability of Spring water.

 

7. Under the World Bank aided REWARD program, draft National Technical Guidelines for next generation watershed projects have been finalized. It aims at integrating new age technologies like Land Resource Inventory (LRI), Hydrology and Decision Support System (DSS) based on digital soil mapping for scientific watershed planning and execution.

 

8. A proposal of EFC Memo for next phase of the WDC-PMKSY 3.0 has been prepared with a total cost of Rs. 16253 cr. (Central share of Rs.10938 cr.) for taking up of conventional watershed projects plus some innovative components to be implemented outside watershed project areas such as (i) Development of 15,000 Springs (ii) Rejuvenation of rivers / streams that are on the verge of drying up or have dried up to be taken up in 8 Major States and (iii) Rejuvenation of Water bodies (including Traditional Water bodies) - to address the need of development of drought prone and rainfed areas not covered under the conventional watershed project. Extensive discussions and consultations with all the relevant stake holders i.e. State Governments, research institutes /relevant scientific organizations, ICAR Institutes, public /Pvt. sector agencies, relevant reputed NGOs have been undertaken in connection with preparation of proposed EFC memo of WDC-PMKSY 3.0.

 

9. The importance of Natural Farming is strongly emphasized at the national level. Considering that the objectives of Natural Farming are closely aligned with the goals of soil health conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land management, the Department proposed to promote Natural Farming on a pilot basis in about 50,000 hectares under the proposed WDC-PMKSY 3.0, as a strategic intervention towards climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

 

10.  A two-day National Watershed Conference was organised on 10–11 November 2025 at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, to review the progress of WDC–PMKSY 2.0 and deliberate on the roadmap for future watershed programmes beyond 2026.

 

11. National Conference on Land Resource Inventory (LRI) for Sustainable Watershed Management held during 3–5 June 2025.

 

12. International Conference on “Watershed Resilience: Integrating Science, Sustainability, and Society”, organised during 26–28 November 2025 at Bengaluru under the World Bank-assisted REWARD Programme, with participation from global experts, national institutions, State Governments, and civil society organisations.

The initiatives undertaken during 2025 reinforce the Government’s commitment to sustainable watershed management, climate resilience, community participation, and long-term water security for rural India.