Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has urged the Union government to create a National Blockchain Property Register to overhaul India’s land and property record system. Speaking during the Budget discussion in Parliament on February 9, the Aam Aadmi Party leader argued that digitising land records through blockchain technology would make them tamper-proof, reduce fraud, accelerate dispute resolution, and improve transparency in property transactions.

He highlighted that a large share of civil disputes in India arise from unclear land ownership and outdated documentation, with millions of records still pending digitisation. Citing successful experiments in Sweden, the UAE, and Georgia, Chadha said blockchain could drastically reduce delays and corruption in the sector. His proposal also aligns with recent Supreme Court observations that India’s land registration framework is structurally weak and in need of modern technological reform.

A Call to Fix a Broken System

Raghav Chadha used his intervention in the Rajya Sabha to draw attention to what he described as the “deep-rooted chaos” in India’s land record system. Addressing fellow parliamentarians, he painted a grim picture of how ordinary citizens struggle for years to establish ownership of their properties. “Land records in India are in utter chaos. Ordinary citizens are made to run from pillar to post at registrar offices, while dalals and middlemen capture the system,” he said.

The MP listed several structural problems-inflated circle rates, widespread use of cash deals, fake documentation, encroachments, and endless litigation over titles. According to statistics cited by him, land-related conflicts account for nearly 66 per cent of all civil disputes in India, around 45 per cent of properties do not have a clear title, and 48 per cent are already under some form of dispute. While Chadha did not disclose the exact source of these figures, they broadly reflect concerns long raised by legal experts and policy analysts.

He further noted that even routine property transactions can take between two and six months to complete, and when disputes arise, cases drag on for an average of seven years in civil courts. “Over 6.2 crore property documents are still awaiting digitisation,” he added, underlining the magnitude of the challenge.

Against this backdrop, Chadha proposed a nationwide blockchain-based registry as a practical solution. Such a system, he argued, would be “time-stamped, tamper-proof and fully transparent,” enabling instant verification of titles and real-time recording of sales, inheritance transfers, and mutations.

Learning from Global Models

To strengthen his argument, Chadha pointed to international examples where blockchain technology has already been used to modernise land administration. Countries such as Sweden, Georgia, and the United Arab Emirates have introduced blockchain-backed registries that allow property transactions to be completed within minutes instead of months. These systems have reportedly reduced paperwork, eliminated duplicate records, and sharply brought down legal disputes.

“Transactions can finish in minutes, and dispute rates fall sharply,” Chadha told Parliament, urging India to adopt a similar path. “India must move from chaos to clarity – from a land record system that creates obstacles to one that prevents them.”

Experts explain that blockchain functions as a digital ledger where every change in ownership is permanently recorded and cannot be altered without leaving a trace. In the property context, this means a secure chain of data that clearly shows who owns what, when it was purchased, and whether any legal claims exist on it. Once such information is uploaded on a blockchain platform, it can be accessed by buyers, banks, government authorities, and courts, drastically reducing the scope for fraud.

The proposal has also gained relevance due to recent judicial observations. In two important rulings in April and November 2025, the Supreme Court clarified that registering a property document in India does not legally establish ownership.

The Court struck down attempts by some states to convert sub-registrar offices into quasi-judicial bodies and described India’s land record system as “structurally fragile.” Significantly, in its November order, the apex court suggested blockchain as an “alternative paradigm” that could integrate property registration with conclusive titling.

These developments have strengthened the argument that technology-led reforms are urgently needed to make India’s property regime more reliable and citizen-friendly.

Balancing Technology with Ground Realities

While the idea of a blockchain registry is gaining traction, specialists caution that technology alone cannot solve decades-old governance issues. India’s land administration is complex, involving overlapping central and state laws, legacy paper records, and varying regional practices. For a national system to work, states would need to harmonise procedures, clean up existing data, and ensure that digital records are legally recognised in courts.

Questions also remain about data privacy, cybersecurity, and accessibility for rural populations who may not be digitally literate. Without parallel investments in infrastructure and capacity building, even the most advanced technology could struggle to deliver results on the ground.

Nevertheless, Chadha’s proposal has sparked an important national conversation about modernising one of India’s most problematic administrative sectors. If implemented carefully, a blockchain-backed system could reduce corruption, improve ease of doing business, and give citizens greater confidence in their property rights.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Land and property are among the most valuable assets that ordinary Indians possess, yet the systems meant to protect these assets remain outdated and unreliable. Endless paperwork, opaque procedures, and prolonged litigation not only drain people financially but also erode their faith in public institutions. The idea of using blockchain technology to bring transparency and accountability to land records is therefore both timely and promising.

However, reforms must be designed with empathy and inclusiveness. Any digital transformation should prioritise the needs of farmers, small homeowners, and marginalised communities who are most vulnerable to exploitation. Strong legal safeguards, clear data protection norms, and accessible grievance redress mechanisms will be crucial to ensure that technology empowers citizens rather than creating new barriers.