The central government is planning a big change in the way property documents are registered. It wants to replace the old Registration Act, which has been used since 1908, with a new law. The Ministry of Rural Development and Land Resources has shared a draft of the new Registration Bill 2025 and is asking people and experts to send their suggestions within 30 days. After that, the final version of the Bill will be prepared and presented in Parliament for approval.
Once passed, this new law will make the entire process of registering property documents online and paperless and help people avoid long queues and the hassle of taking tokens at registrar offices. Buyers, sellers and witnesses won’t even need to visit the office in person.
Digital verification
One of the important changes in the new Bill is that all property documents will be registered online. The government will use Aadhaar-based digital ID to check and verify the documents, helping to stop fake ones from being registered. If a document is found to have false details, the government can cancel its registration. The new system will apply to many types of documents, like sale deeds, gift deeds, power of attorney, agreements to sell, and mortgage papers. Registration officers will have clear duties to make sure the process is safe and transparent.
Mandatory details
In addition, the government has introduced a new rule making it mandatory to include the exact location coordinates-latitude and longitude-in all property transactions, including open plots. This rule will come into force from June 1. Documents without these details will not be accepted. GPS map and camera apps will also be used to make it easier to capture these details.
Measures will also be put in place to prevent fraud through false property photos or incorrect measurements to cheat the government of stamp duty. From April 1, property documents must also include a full-view colour photo of the property attached to the document. The parties involved must also sign on the photo to confirm its authenticity.