Key Points
- India showcased geospatial systems for governance, planning and service delivery.
- Land Stack model discussed for unified digital land datasets
- Asia-Pacific delegates backed cooperation on resilience and urban challenges
India on Tuesday highlighted the use of geospatial data systems, digital land records and an integrated Land Stack model at an Asia-Pacific forum on governance and sustainable development in the national capital.
The Technical Expert Forum on “Advancing Geospatial Foundations for Future-Ready Ecosystem” was held at The Ashok in New Delhi, bringing together policymakers, experts and delegates from across the region, according to an official statement.
Addressing the gathering, Department of Land Resources Secretary Narendra Bhooshan said geospatial information had become central to governance and decision-making across sectors including agriculture, engineering, transport, climate resilience and land administration.
He said governments increasingly depend on accurate, interoperable and reliable geospatial data systems for proactive and efficient service delivery.
Bhooshan said India’s National Geospatial Policy marked an important step towards creating an open, interoperable and innovation-driven geospatial ecosystem aligned with global practices.
He also outlined India’s land governance reforms, including the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme, SVAMITVA and NAKSHA.
Improve land records
According to the statement, these initiatives use drones, aerial surveys, digital mapping and GIS platforms to improve land records, property ownership documentation and planning in rural and urban areas.
Participants also discussed the concept of an integrated Land Stack, envisaged as a unified GIS-enabled platform bringing together multiple land-related datasets for governance and citizen services.
The forum reviewed global frameworks developed under the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, including the Integrated Geospatial Information Framework and Framework for Effective Land Administration.
Surveyor General of India S.K. Sinha said geospatial systems were increasingly being used in infrastructure planning, land governance, environmental management and public services.
Singapore Land Authority Director Victor Khoo underlined the need for coordinated approaches to geospatial development and adoption of international frameworks.
Delegates from the Asia-Pacific region also discussed cooperation in climate adaptation, disaster resilience, coastal vulnerability, urban expansion, agricultural sustainability and land administration modernisation, the statement added.
