Property registration in Karnataka is going to become a secure and hassle-free process. The reason is the ongoing development of a system by the government. This system is based on blockchain technology for online property documentation.

This new system has been developed in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur. You should know that this system promises immutable electronic storage of property data through blockchain. In short-words, once the data is stored it cannot be changed. It eliminates the risks of impersonation and unauthorized tweaking of records. Additional Chief Secretary (e-governance) Rajeev Chawla says that this system was approved by the revenue department and will be ready for a pilot in four months. He further said: “Unless authorized, no official will be able to tamper with the data”. Every property holder will be given a property card akin to an ATM card, it can be accessed through a PIN. Besides that, the property transaction details will be accessed only with the authentication of the user’s digital key or PIN.
Besides that, an expert associated with the project further explained that content in the blockchain will be locked by this card. The card acts like a locker. Unless the card-based consent is provided, nobody can modify the data”.
From a user’s point of view, along with removing the hassle of storing hard copies of documents this system shields property data. A can swipe the card at citizen service centers such as Bangalore One and download or print the same.

The new system is supposed to strengthen the revenue department’s existing Kaveri portal. In addition to that, the expert added “The identification of a property database in a sub registrar’s office will become easy. Right now, Kaveri is reliant on human discretion for verification of identity and ownership. Sub-registrar’s office will authenticate all this. The new technology will decrease human discretion as the cards will prove individuals identity and authentication”.

Last year, data of about 300 properties in the Kaveri portal was supposedly compromised. An internal audit report of the Department of Stamps and Registration speculatedspeculated that officials with technical expertise had misused the portal.