Bihar Introduces New Land Registry Rule: Satellite Images Mandatory from April 1

The government of Bihar is introducing a major change to how property registration is carried out in the state, with a new rule coming into effect from April 1, 2026. Under the revised procedure, anyone seeking to register land, a house, or a flat must first upload a satellite image of the property to the official registration portal. Registration appointments or dates will only be granted after this satellite photo has been uploaded.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Bihar government to modernise land registration and reduce fraud in property transactions. The main idea behind the requirement is to ensure that the property details provided by buyers and sellers are accurate and can be verified using geographic data. By relying on satellite imagery, authorities aim to confirm that the plot being registered is correctly identified, preventing cases where land is misrepresented or registered more than once.

The rule was tested in Darbhanga district, where the authorities conducted a trial of the new system, allowing property owners to upload satellite images of their plots online. According to officials, the pilot was successful, and the method is now set to be implemented statewide.

If the system functions as intended, it should significantly curb fraudulent property deals—such as selling the same plot multiple times—because the registration process will be linked to verifiable location data. Once the satellite image and relevant property details are entered into the portal, the system can check for inconsistencies and flag attempts to register a property more than once.

The government views this change as a step toward expanding digital governance in Bihar, enhancing transparency in land transactions, and increasing public trust. Officials hope the move will not only help individual property buyers and sellers but also bring more clarity and accountability to land records across the state.