In India, as in many developingcountries, land continues to have enormous economic, social,and symbolic relevance. How access to land can be obtained,and how ownership of land can be documented, are questionsessential to the livelihoods of the large majority of thepoor, especially in rural and tribal areas. Answers to thesequestions will determine to what extent India'sincreasingly scarce natural resources are managed. Moreover,land policy and administration are critical determinants ofthe transaction costs associated with accessing andtransferring land, both for business and residential use.This will affect how easily land can be used as collateralfor credit and the development of the financial sector. Landcontinues to be a major source of government revenue throughstamp duties, and is a key element in implementing a widerange of government programs. Land policies and institutionswill have a far-reaching impact on the country'sability to sustain high rates of growth, on the degree thateconomic growth benefits the poor, and on the level andspatial distribution of economic activity. To make progresstowards the long term goal of improved land administrationand policy in India, a number of immediate steps arerecommended. First, expand computerization and integrationand use of textual records to ensure full coverage. Second,establish a spatial framework capable of achieving fullcoverage with reasonable time and resource requirements, atlest in the medium term. Third, pilot ways to improvetextual and spatial records for well-defined situations toestablish processes that can be scaled up rapidly, improvingtextual and spatial records. Fourth, allow private sectorparticipation in surveying, focusing government on aregulatory role, reduce stamp duty rates, and explore thescope for replacing them with a land tax.
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