The Bihar government has launched a large-scale initiative to digitise nearly five crore land and property registration records dating from 1908 to the present. The programme is intended to make property documents more secure, easier to access and quicker to retrieve for citizens.
The digitisation drive was launched last month by the state’s Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department. According to department minister Madan Sahni, the initiative will reduce the time required to obtain copies of registration documents and provide citizens with easier access to property-related information without having to visit registration offices.
Digital records are also expected to support the resolution of complaints and disputes concerning land and property registration. Once the digital platform is fully operational, citizens will be able to access relevant registration information remotely.
Digitisation of Older Records
The department has already completed the digitisation of documents registered from 1996 to the current year. The focus has now shifted to older records, particularly those registered between 1990 and 1995.
Around 33 lakh documents from this period are currently being processed. Nearly 20 lakh documents have already been digitised.
The state has also digitised around 68 lakh documents registered between 1996 and 2005 across its registration offices. Verification of these records is reportedly close to completion, with errors identified during the process being corrected.
Bihar currently has 145 registration offices. Digitisation of nearly two crore documents registered between 2006 and 2025 has also been completed across these offices. The department has undertaken verification and correction of errors found in the digitised records.
Preserving Historical Property Records
Bihar’s land registration history extends back more than two centuries. Land registration began in 1796 in Patna, Muzaffarpur and Purnia. The current digitisation initiative therefore covers records with significant historical value in addition to contemporary property documents.
Digitising these records can help preserve older documents that may otherwise face deterioration or loss over time. Electronic storage can also make it easier for authorised users and government departments to retrieve information when required.
For property owners, prospective buyers and other stakeholders, improved access to registration records could simplify document verification and reduce dependence on physical copies.
Wider Impact on Property Transactions
The initiative is also expected to support Bihar’s property registration process by improving access to historical ownership and registration information. Faster retrieval of documents can assist citizens dealing with property transfers, registration-related applications and disputes.
The move reflects the increasing use of digital records in land administration across India. By converting decades of paper-based registration documents into digital formats, Bihar is seeking to create a more accessible record base while preserving its extensive land-registration history.
The government’s target of digitising nearly five crore records represents one of the largest document-conversion initiatives undertaken for the state’s land and property registration records.
