SVAMITWA Scheme

SVAMITVA Scheme and Related Information

1. Overview of the SVAMITVA Scheme:
   • SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
   • Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020, it aims to provide legal property documentation to rural households.
   • The initiative is a central scheme implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
2. Key Objectives:
   • To create accurate land ownership records for rural properties.
   • To unlock the economic potential of rural land by issuing property cards.
   • To reduce property-related disputes in rural areas and enhance transparency in land ownership.
3. Economic Impact:
   • The issuance of property cards is expected to unlock economic activity worth over ₹100 lakh crore in rural areas.
   • Property cards transform “dead capital” (land without documentation) into productive assets.
   • Villagers can leverage property cards to secure loans and participate in formal economic activities.
4. Survey and Coverage:
   • Over 6 lakh villages have been surveyed under the scheme since its launch in 2020.
   • As of January 2025, 2.25 crore people in rural areas have received legal documentation for their houses.
   • Drone technology is being used for high-resolution mapping of rural properties.
5. Distribution Event on January 18, 2025:
   • PM Modi distributed 65 lakh property cards through videoconferencing.
   • Beneficiaries were from 20 states and 2 Union Territories, including Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
   • The event also highlighted the distribution of five SVAMITVA cards to tribal beneficiaries.
6. Significance of Property Cards:
   • Property cards are crucial for financial inclusion as they provide villagers with legal proof of ownership.
   • They enable villagers to use land as collateral for securing loans.
   • Legal documentation helps resolve disputes and streamlines ownership transfer processes.
7. Integrated Features:
   • The introduction of the Unified Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) as a foundational tool for village development.
   • Drone surveys digitize land records, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
   • ULPIN assigns a unique identity to each land parcel, making tracking and legal recognition easier.
8. Challenges Addressed by SVAMITVA:
   • Historically, the absence of legal property documentation limited economic participation and led to disputes.
   • The scheme addresses the global challenge of property rights in rural areas.
9. Global and National Context:
   • According to the Prime Minister, issues related to property ownership rights are a global concern.
   • In India, property disputes have led to delays in land transactions and economic stagnation in rural areas.
10. Technological Innovation:
    • Drone technology plays a pivotal role in creating accurate and comprehensive land records.
    • These records form the basis for issuing property cards and updating revenue records.
11. Banking and Economic Inclusion:
    • With legal ownership, villagers can access formal credit facilities from banks.
    • Property cards provide a foundation for rural entrepreneurship and asset-based income generation.
12. Past Achievements and Future Goals:
    • Since its inception, the scheme has demonstrated success in digitizing property records in villages.
    • The government aims to extend the benefits of SVAMITVA to all villages in India, ensuring that every rural household has legal property documentation.

Notes on Key Terms:

1. SVAMITVA: A central government scheme to provide legal property documents to rural households by mapping land using drones.
2. Unified Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN): A unique identifier assigned to each land parcel to ensure accuracy and legal clarity in property records.

Dead Capital: Assets, such as undocumented land, that cannot be used for economic transactions due to the absence of legal ownership proof.