MP cabinet gives nod to free registration of properties on ‘abaadi’ land

Bhopal: In a major regularisation relief for more than 48 lakh families living on ‘abaadi’ (habitation) land for generations, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved free registration of ownership documents for such properties, waiving stamp duty and registration charges under a new scheme that will be funded entirely by the state govt at an estimated cost of Rs 3,800 crore.

The decision is expected to benefit residents of villages as well as habitation settlements on city outskirts and revenue villages that have gradually become part of urban areas but continue to be recorded as villages.

Officials said registered ownership documents will enable beneficiaries to access bank loans for house construction, businesses and other economic activities, besides helping them avail benefits linked to legal property ownership.

The cabinet gave its nod to the Swamitva Adhikar Abhilekh Nishpadan Evam Panjiyan Yojana-2026 for properties mapped under the SVAMITVA scheme through drone surveys. While ownership records were already prepared, formal registration was pending. According to the govt, ownership records have been created for 68.11 lakh properties, including 48.32 lakh private properties across the state.

The decision was among a series of measures cleared by the cabinet, which approved proposals worth Rs 21,485 crore. A major share of Rs 17,059 crore was sanctioned for strengthening public healthcare and medical education, including construction of new medical colleges in Ujjain, Seoni, Chhatarpur, Damoh and Budhni, expansion of MBBS and postgraduate seats, and continued operation of medical college-linked hospitals.

The cabinet also decided that students of classes 1 to 8 in govt schools will receive stitched uniforms through a centralised tender process from the 2026-27 academic session, aimed at ensuring timely supply and uniform quality standards. Amendments to the Panchayat Raj and Gram Swaraj Act and the Upkar Act were also approved.

Among other decisions, the cabinet approved the revised cost of the under-construction district court complex at Pipliyahana in Indore, ratified the formation of a judicial commission to probe the Bargi reservoir cruise accident, and endorsed SGST reimbursement for the films “Tanvi The Great” and “Shatakah: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh”.

In another key takeaway from the meeting, officials also indicated that public consultations and related procedures for the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) are expected to be completed by July 30.