Pune: Maharashtra Proposes Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication for Property Registration to Curb Fraud

Pune, 16th July 2026: In a move aimed at enhancing transparency in property transactions and curbing fraud, the Maharashtra Registration and Stamps Department has proposed making Aadhaar authentication mandatory for the registration of all property-related documents, including those for the sale and purchase of land, residential flats, and commercial properties. The proposal has been submitted to the state government for approval.

At present, Aadhaar authentication during property registration is optional. According to officials, this has created loopholes that have been exploited in several cases of fraudulent property transactions, including the illegal transfer of government land and the execution of sale deeds using forged documents and fake identities.

If approved, every buyer and seller will be legally required to authenticate their identity through Aadhaar while registering a property document. Officials believe the measure will establish a stronger identity verification system, making it significantly more difficult to carry out transactions using forged documents or by impersonating others.

The proposal also seeks to remove the existing ‘skip’ option in the document registration system. Currently, since Aadhaar authentication is not mandatory, sub-registrars can bypass Aadhaar verification while registering documents. Investigations into recent government land scam cases allegedly found that this provision had been misused to facilitate fraudulent registrations. Once Aadhaar authentication becomes compulsory, the skip option will be permanently removed from the system.

Maharashtra records several lakh property registrations every year, generating substantial revenue through stamp duty and registration fees. Officials said mandatory Aadhaar authentication is expected to strengthen the integrity of the registration process and significantly reduce the scope for fraudulent transactions.

Before the proposal can be implemented, however, the state government will need to amend the Maharashtra Registration Act, as the existing law does not mandate Aadhaar authentication. The Registration and Stamps Department has submitted a detailed proposal seeking the necessary legal amendments. The new provisions will come into effect only after the state government grants its approval.