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New Delhi — In a major development for citizen-centric governance, the SVAMITVA scheme, which stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas, has been lauded as a global model for its transformative impact on rural India. During a high-level review of the Survey of India, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the scheme has empowered citizens to become “masters of their own destiny,” thereby reducing their reliance on traditional revenue officials.
A Game-Changing Policy and Technological Leap
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the pivotal role of the National Geospatial Policy 2022, calling it a “game-changer” for democratizing geo-spatial data. The policy has made high-resolution mapping and surveying more accessible to both government and public sectors, laying the groundwork for schemes like SVAMITVA.
The Minister also outlined a visionary plan for the Survey of India to complete a high-resolution topographical survey and mapping of the entire country by 2030. This includes mapping urban and rural areas with a resolution of 5-10 cm, and forests and wastelands at 50-100 cm.
This ambitious initiative is a shift from the Survey of India’s traditional role as a map producer to a “geo-spatial enabler.” The department’s technical expertise is now driving key government projects, including the AMRUT Mission, Smart Cities, Digital Twin Mission, and the NAKSHA Scheme.
Modernizing Governance and Boosting Citizen Services
To streamline service delivery, the Survey of India has been instrumental in establishing a network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and creating a comprehensive Geodetic Asset Register at the state, district, and taluka levels. These registers, once made available to Tehsildars, will significantly enhance the efficiency of citizen-centric services.
Dr. Singh also announced plans to integrate cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to upgrade the department’s capabilities and foster synergy with other government ministries. Furthermore, to raise awareness about these advancements, the Minister has directed the department to hold a national workshop with all relevant ministries, departments, and states.
On the international front, the minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in facilitating MoUs on geo-spatial data and surveying with countries like Russia and Nigeria, with six more such collaborations currently in the pipeline.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and is intended for informational purposes only. The views and statements expressed are those of the Union Minister and do not constitute an endorsement or a definitive statement on the effectiveness or future of the mentioned policies and schemes.
Reference:
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, August 12). Success Story of “SVAMITVA” (Survey Village and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme Empowers Citizens to Be Masters of Their Own Destiny: Dr. Jitendra Singh. PIB Delhi. Retrieved from pib.gov.in
