For millions of Indians, buying a home marks a personal milestone, but registering that house often means lost workdays, endless queues, and endless rounds of paperwork. However, the Draft Registration Bill, 2025 will likely change all that.
Proposed by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the Bill is supposed to replace the century-old Registration Act of 1908 with a streamlined, digital-first framework designed to make registering property transactions faster, safer, and more transparent.
Yash Miglani, MD, Migsun Group, says, “For developers, this means fewer title disputes and faster loan approvals, which helps projects get done faster. We believe that these kinds of changes will make the industry more open and professional, which will be good for end users in the long run.”
What’s New in the Draft Registration Bill
The Bill was essentially a technology-driven property registration measure that would enable registration of sale deeds and several other important documents through the online system. Under these, a purchaser does not have to be present in person at the sub-registrar’s office. Aadhaar-based authentication, connected with the municipal and land records and a digital mode of sale deeds will help the buyer register the property.
This digitalisation will benefit working individuals, senior citizens and even non-resident Indians (NRIs), who otherwise often face difficulty sparing some time for handling these time-taking tasks. A buyer in Bengaluru, for example, could buy property from anywhere, without intermediaries or physical documentation.
What it Means for Homebuyers
For homebuyers, this Bill promises more streamlining and efficiency. They will now be able to submit documents, sign them digitally, and complete the entire registration process from home or work.
Sunny Katyal, Co-Founder, Investors Clinic, says, " Aadhaar-linked registrations, electronic verification, and standardised documentation will significantly reduce fraud and mis-selling. This simplifies the entire purchasing process for the buyer, from the site visit to the final registry. Alongside this law, RERA and other regulatory bodies strengthen the ecosystem for buyers, ensuring project accountability and timely delivery, and making the registration process itself more secure and seamless."
Key Documents That Will Go Digital
Agreements to sell, powers of attorney, mortgage deeds, and sale certificates will now require digital registration, which enhances traceability and legal standing. This reform closes critical loopholes that have long been exploited in property fraud cases.
The Bill could also speed up home loan approvals. At present, banks typically manually verify every document, often across different registries. With everything digitally recorded and accessible, lenders can verify ownership and sale history instantly, thus reducing delays and paperwork errors.
Reducing Legal Disputes
Outdated and vague property documents often lead to disputes on boundary details of land. Under the new Bill, registered properties must include detailed maps and survey-backed descriptions, thus helping buyers understand exactly what they are purchasing.
Stronger Fraud Prevention
One of the Bill’s most significant impact is its potential to curb property fraud. Agreements to sell will be traceable through a public digital database, allowing buyers to check for duplicate sales or suspicious ownership history. Integration with land and municipal databases adds another layer of transparency.
Viineet Chellani, Founder and CEO, Asset Deals, says, ''Buyers will finally be able to register property online; no more long queues or dependence on sub-registrar offices. With fewer middlemen and simplified paperwork, the process becomes quicker, more transparent, and far less intimidating for the average homebuyer. What’s especially important is the introduction of mandatory digital records, which offer stronger legal safeguards and reduce title-related disputes. Banks can also access verified documents instantly, making home loan approvals faster and smoother.''
Accessibility for All, Including NRIs
With Aadhaar authentication, e-signatures, and backend integrations, even NRIs can carry out property transactions remotely. Elderly parents or overseas buyers no longer need to rely on proxies or risk fraudulent transactions.
A Warning on Cybersecurity
While the Bill promises security through digital trails, legal experts have cautioned that digitisation must go hand-in-hand with cybersecurity measures. Property data, ranging from financial details to contact information, could become vulnerable to cybercrime if not secured properly.
The Draft Registration Bill, 2025, is yet to become a law. The government is currently soliciting feedback from stakeholders, including homebuyers, legal professionals, and financial institutions, until June 25, 2025. Suggestions can be submitted through the Ministry of Rural Development’s official website.
