Author: Bihar Say | Amrita |

Bihar Goes Digital: Govt Begins Digitising Property Records Dating Back to 1908!

Bihar Launches Mega Digitisation Drive to Preserve Property Records Since 1908

Imagine being able to access your great-grandfather’s land deed with just a few clicks. That’s no longer a dream in Bihar. In a historic move that blends legacy with technology, the Bihar government has embarked on one of its most ambitious digitisation projects yet—scanning and securing over 5 crore registered documents dating back to 1908.

Preserving Bihar’s Century-Old Land History

Led by the Prohibition, Excise, and Registration Department, this digitisation effort focuses on preserving property documents that were once handwritten and stored in fragile paper format. The initiative aims to improve transparency, reduce legal disputes, and streamline land ownership verifications across the state.

As per officials, documents will be digitised year-wise—starting with the most recent (1995-1990), then moving backwards (1990-1947, followed by 1947-1908).

Completed Work & What’s Next

The government has already digitised 2.34 crore registered deeds from 1995 to 2025. The fresh phase targets the remaining 5 crore deeds that pre-date this period. These documents mostly include property deeds, which play a vital role in both legal ownership and land transfer processes.

Tenders have been issued, and agencies are selected for this mammoth job. The goal? To complete the entire process in the next fiscal year.

Why This Matters to Every Landowner

With digitised records, landowners will easily access their title deeds, eliminating the long-standing hassle of physically visiting government offices or relying on intermediaries. More importantly, this move will help resolve land disputes—many of which have been stuck in legal limbo due to missing or unclear paperwork.

Boosting Revenue & Reforming the System

This drive isn’t just about digital convenience. It’s also showing results in numbers. The registration department exceeded its revenue targets in FY 2024-25, collecting ₹7,648 crore against a target of ₹7,500 crore. In contrast, the previous year brought in ₹6,170 crore.

Officials believe that improved processes, including paperless registrations in select offices and faster access to records, will further enhance service delivery and government earnings.

More Reforms on the Way

In addition to digitisation, the department is:

• Launching paperless registration of documents in four pilot offices.

• Setting up three new registration offices at Birpur (Supaul), Sonbarsa (Saharsa), and Paliganj (Patna).

• Monitoring progress through special land surveys, which are expected to be complete by December 2026.

Ministerial Action and Accountability

Revenue Minister Sanjay Saraogi recently chaired a review meeting to assess the pace of digitisation and land survey work. He instructed officials to accelerate the survey process, particularly in 20 districts where the first phase has already begun. In East and West Champaran, where Phase II is underway, he expressed concern over delays in receiving self-declared forms and genealogical charts from landowners.

He also called on settlement officers and field staff to physically visit camps and help citizens submit required documentation for land title verification.

💡 Whether you’re a landowner, a legal practitioner, or just someone interested in the digital transformation of Bihar, this initiative sets a benchmark in combining governance with tech efficiency.

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