Gujarat Government to Provide Free Property Title Deeds Under SVAMITVA Yojana
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On July 21, 2025, the Gujarat government reaffirmed its policy of providing the first copy of the property card (SVAMITVA title deed) free of charge to rural property holders across the state. This initiative aligns with earlier decisions made by CM Bhupendra Patel in 2023 to support villagers in obtaining legal ownership documentation under the central SVAMITVA scheme.
SVAMITVA—acronym for Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas—is a flagship Central Sector Scheme launched on April 24, 2021, to legally record property ownership in inhabited rural areas via drone-based surveys and GIS mapping.
Under this scheme, once a drone survey is completed in a village, detailed land parcel maps are prepared. Residents receive a Property Card, also known as a legal title deed or “Record of Rights.” In Gujarat, as in other states, these cards were initially provided at a nominal fee. However, the government decided to waive this fee for the first copy, thereby removing a financial barrier for rural households — especially marginal farmers and women owners — and facilitating access to bank loans and formal credit.
Across India, SVAMITVA has made significant progress: over 2.25 crore rural residents have been issued property cards by early 2025, following drone surveys in more than half of the targeted 6 lakh villages. This program is expected to unlock rural economic potential estimated at over ₹100 lakh crore by formalizing land rights, reducing disputes, and enabling property monetization.
Free issuance of the first card in Gujarat underscores the state’s commitment to rural empowerment. It enhances legal security, financial inclusion, and institutional transparency. Farmers and rural families now have tangible records of ownership, paving the way for better planning, investment, and equitable growth in India’s villages.
