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Gujarat waives ₹200 fee for rural property certificates under SVAMITVA Yojana

Gujarat waives ₹200 fee for rural property certificates under SVAMITVA Yojana

The Hindu5 days ago
The Gujarat government on Monday (July 21, 2025) announced that Sanad (ownership certificates) for residential properties under the SVAMITVA Yojana will now be issued free of cost. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has waived the ₹200 fee previously charged under the Land Revenue Act, 1879, making the process more accessible to small, poor, and middle-income landholders in villages.
The state government estimates that around 25 lakh rural residents will benefit from the decision, with an expenditure of approximately ₹50 crore being borne by the state to distribute the certificates.
SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central government initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and implemented through the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It uses drone technology to map residential land in rural areas and issue official property cards to landholders.
Under the scheme, the first copy of the property card is already provided free of cost. With Gujarat's latest decision, rural residents will now receive both the property card and Sanad without incurring any expense.
Officials stated that the move is aimed at strengthening legal ownership rights, reducing property disputes, and promoting accurate land records for improved rural planning and governance. The decision is also viewed as a step toward the broader goal of improving the quality of life for rural communities.
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