Maharashtra government has approved full legal validity for digitally signed 7/12 and related land records to boost e-governance.
Mumbai
In a major push toward transparent and citizen-friendly governance, the Maharashtra government has granted full legal validity to Digital 7/12 extracts and other essential land records, including 8-A and Ferfar (Mutation) documents. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Thursday that a government resolution (GR) has been issued to implement new Rules for Digital Land Records under the Maharashtra Land Measurement and Record Keeping Act, 2025.
Calling it a massive leap in E-Governance, Minister Bawankule highlighted that citizens will no longer need to rely on physical paperwork or stand in long queues. There will be Trust Through Tech as extracts like 7/12, 8A, and Mutation (Ferfar) are secured with a Digital Signature, QR Code, and a 16-digit verification number. Talathi’s stamp is not required. Anyone can get an official and verified extract for just Rs 15. The digital extracts will be acceptable for all government work. This is our commitment to transparency, speed, and ease of business, he said.
According to the GR, the state has initiated implementation of the new Act by framing detailed procedures for measuring village land and preparing updated, authenticated digital land records. The rules standardise the process for record authentication, mandating digital signatures of Land Revenue Officers on official documents.
Citizens can now obtain or correct land documents through two methods: an online application via the official Mahabhumi Portal (digitalbaliraja.mahabhumi.gov.in) or offline through Village Revenue Officers (Gram Mahsul Adhikari) and Tahsildar offices. The government said this would significantly reduce manual processing and modernise land administration across the state.
The GR also explains the importance of the 7/12 extract, a combined record of ownership (Form VII) and agricultural details (Form XII), widely used in rural Maharashtra to verify land ownership, survey data, crop information and for transactions, loans and dispute resolution.
