In a major relief for rural property owners, the Gujarat government has eliminated the Rs 200 fee for ownership certificates under the SVAMITVA scheme, an official announced on Monday. This decision, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, ensures that rural residents can now obtain both property cards and “sanad” (ownership certificates) at no cost.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2021, the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme employs drone technology to survey properties in rural inhabited areas, issuing property cards to landholders. Previously, the first property card was provided free, but the ownership certificate incurred a survey fee under the Land Revenue Act, 1879. With this waiver, the state government will bear an estimated Rs 50 crore to distribute approximately 25 lakh certificates across Gujarat, significantly easing the financial burden on rural communities and streamlining property documentation.

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