Telangana land reforms set in motion: Bhu Bharati to correct Dharani’s wrongs

Key aspects

• Bhu Bharati launched on April 14 at 5 pm at Shilpakala Vedika
• To be available from April 15
• Simplified website and simplified process
• Portal to be available in three languages – Telugu, Urdu and English
• A more modern and secure version of the portal will be made available soon
• From April 15, registrations will continue as usual without hassles
• Portal development to proceed without affecting ongoing registrations
• Bhu Bharati would initially be rolled out as a pilot programme in 4 mandals — one each from Khammam, Kamareddy, Nagar Kurnool, and Mulugu districts
• From June 2, on the occasion of the State Formation Day, it will be made available to the entire State 
• There’s a 45-day window to correct the glitches and mistakes
• Applications will be collected manually from the villages in the mandals; authorities available in the three pilot districts

Highlights

• Simplification of land records
• Improved revenue records management
• Provision for permanent land dispute solutions through “enjoyment surveys”
• Creation of an appeals mechanism
• Protection of inheritance rights
• Introduction of ‘Bhu Bharati number’
• Creation of land tribunals
• Ensuring faster implementation with rules drafted within three months 
• Resolution of land disputes quickly and fairly
• Integration of Aadhaar-linked land ownership cards
• Land records and rights to be protected for the next 100 years 

Bhu Bharati launch ushers in modern, transparent land records in Telangana

In a significant move, commemorating the 134th birth anniversary of the Architect of the Indian Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambekdar, the visionary Chief Minister of Telangana Shri A. Revanth Reddy launched the Bhu Bharati portal at Shilpakala Vedika on April 14, 2025, at 5 p.m, in the presence of revenue officials.

That the Congress government chose Ambedkar Jayanti for the launch proves its allegiance to the common man and the downtrodden. In March this year, the government passed the much-awaited BC Bill, increasing the reservations for Backward Classes (BCs) to 42%, Scheduled Castes (SCs) to 15%, and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to 10% and paving the way for “inclusive development of marginalised classes”.

Today’s launch of the Bhu Bharati portal is another significant step towards achieving the overall development of each section of society. 

In a statement, the Honourable Chief Minister said: “As promised by the people’s government, a new Record of Rights (ROR) Act has been created to provide quality services through the Bhu Bharati portal, replacing Dharani, which was the root cause of many land-related issues and disputes. Farmers can now access services like registrations and mutations, and I’m happy to say Bhu Bharati will offer a lasting solution to long-standing land problems. Under this new initiative, land records and citizens’ rights will be protected for the next 100 years.”

Dismantling Dharani

Keeping its election manifesto promise to “dismantle Dharani”, the Telangana Bhu Bharati Bill-2024 was introduced in the State Assembly by Revenue Minister Mr. Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to overhaul the previous Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Pass Books Act, 2020 (ROR Act of 2020), reform land governance, and ensure long-term security for landowners. 

The Telangana government successfully passed the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Bill 2024 on December 20, 2024, which got the Governor’s nod on January 9, 2025, and was then sent for the Centre’s approval. Meanwhile, based on the observations of the five-member expert committee that was formed to draft detailed operational guidelines, the Bhu Bharati portal has been readied and launched. 

Correcting previous government’s wrongs

The Chief Minister directed officials to focus on previous complaints regarding Dharani issues received during the BRS government’s tenure and clear them in a phased manner. The government also made very clear its intention to conduct a “forensic audit” into irregularities committed under the earlier Dharani system to ensure accountability. 

Is ‘Bhu Bharati’ really needed? 

The answer is a simple and resounding ‘YES’. Under the BRS regime, due to the irregularities in the Dharani portal, people lost lakhs of acres of land, where the ‘anubhavadaaru’ (occupant) was deprived of his “land enjoyment” right.

“Dharani portal endangered 1.57 crore acres of land owned by the people. For three years, it operated without formal rules, and mortgaged Telangana’s land. But now, the Bhu Bharati Act ensures that even minor land issues are resolved instantly and transparently,” said the Revenue Minister.

With a primary focus on replacing the Dharani portal for land records, Bhu Bharati aims for “transparent, efficient, and error-free land governance”. Honourable Chief Minister Shri A. Revanth Reddy’s Congress government views Bhu Bharati as a “major milestone in helping the rural and farming communities”. 

Why is the Bhu Bharati Act important?

The Revenue Minister highlighted how the previous BRS government compromised the land rights of Telangana’s citizens, and emphasised that the Congress government’s “primary aim of introducing the Bhu Bharati Act and portal is to ensure the protection of all lands in Telangana”.

“The new legislation upholds the dignity and rights of landowners, especially from vulnerable communities,” shared the Minister, assuring the people of Telangana that the Honourable Chief Minister and government are “committed to protecting farmers and landholders from exploitation and land alienation”.

“The Bhu Bharati Act drew inspiration from the historic struggles for land rights in Telangana – particularly the contributions of Ravi Narayana Reddy, Arutla Kamaladevi, and Chakali Ailamma, who fought for self-respect and ownership and their struggles,” shared Mr. Srinivas Reddy.

Without naming names, the Revenue Minister hit back at the false propaganda saying, “Certain entities claim that using Bhu Bharati we will take people’s / farmers’ lands. However, we are only trying to ensure that the irregularities under Dharani are addressed. This new legislation would restore transparency, rectify past injustices, and safeguard ownership rights,” he said and shared that around 2.47 lakh applications have been pending in Dharani and another 3 lakh applications were received in the past 16 months. 

Bhu Bharati v/s Dharani: What’s different?

• ‘Occupant’ column has been restored in Bhu Bharati.
• Provision for appeal over land litigations/disputes, and ownership issues.
• Revenue officials such as Tahsildars, RDO and Collectors will have authority over issues related to litigations/ land disputes. 
• Post-registration, there is a provision to appeal on Bhu Bharati.
• People can approach revenue officials, land tribunals, and appellate authorities for justice.
• A complete/aggregate record will be made after the land survey; a link will be created between the land and the record.
• In addition to the existing land registration and immediate mutation based on registration documents, a map for the registered land (even if only a part of the land is registered) will be given to the farmer after a thorough survey.
• Inheritance and transfer of ownership – when someone applies for inheritance right over the inherited land (ancestral property), all the successors/legal heirs will be intimated via a notice; only after that will the details be entered in the records –  and then the mutation can happen based on the objections / no objections / unified claim raised by heirs.
• For assigned lands, pattadars will be issued a passbook. 
• Mutation processes will be simplified and Sada Bainamas (unregistered sale agreements filed up to November 10, 2020) will be regularised.
• Ownership of lands held by kaul (tenanted) farmers will be transferred to them. Pattadar passbook will be issued for land acquired under Telangana Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, after thorough inspection by the RDO. 
• Gram Revenue Vyavastha will be restored – every village is likely to have a Village Revenue Officer/ Village Revenue Assistant.

How will the initiative be implemented?

• The Bhu Bharati portal and application (app) were formally launched on Monday, April 14, 2025, coinciding with the 134th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar. 
• It will be implemented initially as a pilot project in three selected mandals across Telangana — Thirumalagiri (Nalgonda), Sadasivapet (Medak), and Keesara (Rangareddy).
• The initiative will be implemented throughout the State in a phased manner by June 2, Telangana Formation Day. 
• The Revenue Minister shared that the government is open to learning from initial shortcomings and rectifying them. Based on the results and feedback from the pilot phase, Bhu Bharati is expected to be rolled out across the State.
• Awareness sessions will be conducted in each mandal to educate the public about the new portal.
• In the meantime, the Minister asked the people to refrain from trying to access the portal immediately to check their land information, as a surge could result in the portal’s disruption, non-availability, or even complete shutdown.