New Delhi, December 19, 2025:
In a major initiative aimed at resolving long-standing issues related to ownership, identification and documentation of Abadi Deh land in Delhi’s rural areas, the Delhi Government has announced the launch of a comprehensive Abadi Deh survey. The move is expected to bring clarity to land records, provide legal proof of ownership to villagers and significantly reduce land-related disputes. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the initiative as a historic and transformative step in strengthening rural land management and ensuring financial security for residents.
Addressing the issue, the Chief Minister said the government will conduct a detailed survey of Abadi Deh areas, prepare verified records and undertake complete computerisation within a clearly defined legal and administrative framework. The initiative will involve modern technology, including drone-based surveys, digital mapping and field verification, to ensure accurate demarcation of land parcels. Once completed, property cards will be issued to eligible residents, serving as legal proof of ownership and enabling access to bank loans, financial assistance and government welfare schemes.
To ensure effective implementation of the SVAMITVA Scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24, 2020, the Delhi Government has prepared a draft of the Delhi Abadi Deh Survey and Record Management Rules, 2025. The draft outlines the entire operational process, from aerial surveys using drones and on-ground verification to inviting public objections, resolving disputes, digitising records and issuing property cards. The objective, the Chief Minister said, is to ensure transparency, fairness and time-bound resolution of disputes without infringing upon anyone’s rights.
According to government provisions, the survey process will be carried out under the direct supervision of the Revenue Department. Specially constituted survey teams and technical agencies will jointly conduct surveys in Abadi Deh areas, extended Abadi Deh zones and other notified regions. High-resolution aerial images captured through drones will be used to record the precise location, size and boundaries of each plot. These preliminary maps will then undergo mandatory physical verification on the ground to ensure that the recorded boundaries accurately match ground realities.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that the Revenue Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Survey of India in April 2022 for implementing the SVAMITVA Scheme across 48 rural villages in Delhi. Drone surveys have already been completed in 31 villages, while Map 2.0 for 25 villages has been verified and submitted to the Survey of India for issuance of land parcel maps and geo-based identification numbers.
As part of the survey’s initial phase, physical demarcation of Abadi Deh boundaries will be undertaken using appropriate methods. Survey teams will classify land into various categories, including jointly owned land, private plots, roads, lanes, drains, community spaces, religious sites, graveyards, cremation grounds and government properties. Areas not clearly visible in aerial surveys due to dense vegetation or structures will also be identified separately. Support from municipal corporations, the Delhi Development Authority, other government departments and the police administration will be taken wherever required to ensure smooth execution and prevent boundary tampering.
The government has also decided to fully computerise Abadi Deh land records. A dedicated digital portal will be developed by the Revenue Department, allowing citizens to access copies of their land records on payment of prescribed fees. This step is expected to enhance transparency, improve record security and make land-related information easily accessible. After completion of the survey and record management process, property cards will be issued as legally valid documents of ownership.
The Chief Minister said the initiative will also support planned development in Abadi Deh areas by improving civic amenities, preserving village heritage, enhancing land value and facilitating rural infrastructure development in line with urban standards. She added that the move would help resolve decades-old disputes over boundaries and ownership, while also accelerating the implementation of government schemes by providing clarity on land rights.
Abadi Deh refers to the inhabited area within a village’s revenue boundary, traditionally comprising residential houses, cowsheds, threshing floors and related structures. Historically, these areas were excluded from agricultural land records, leaving residents without formal documentation of ownership. The proposed survey and issuance of property cards under the SVAMITVA framework are expected to address this gap, marking a significant step towards legal certainty and long-term reform in rural land governance in Delhi.
