MODERNIZING OF LAND RECORD IN KARNATAKA: A CASE STUDY ON BHOOMI PROJECT

The Bhoomi project is a landmark and innovative e-Governance project by the Karnataka Government, aimed at digitalization and management of land records. This study analyses the existing issues with the development, implementation of the Bhoomi project in the transformative role of the Revenue Department in segregating land record services in an effective manner. Land record management faced many challenges such as manual record-keeping, management in good condition, inaccuracies, delays, and susceptibility to corruption. This project addresses many issues by providing services in digital format for citizens to access land records online, request Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC) documents, Mutation Records (MR) apply for property mutations, and check status online. The integration of digital verification by the Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and an online grievance redressal system further strengthens the accuracy, transparency, accountability in land record officers and citizen-friendliness. The Bhoomi significantly reduced the land disputes and has improved trust in the government’s land administration practices. This study demonstrates the role of this project as a model for e-governance and highlights the potential for other states in India to replicate its success to achieve greater efficiency, accountability, and public satisfaction in land governance.