All of the land available in India is owned by the government, making it the largest landholder in the country. In a country as large and populous as India (approximately 3.29 million square kilometers), land can serve as a necessary condition for the livelihoods and general development of people.

Land has been one of the most fundamental and influential resources throughout human history. Beyond being merely a physical space, it serves as the foundation for agriculture, housing, industry, education, and religion. Land has long symbolized wealth, power, and social standing, playing a critical role in shaping economies, political landscapes, and societal structures. In a vast and diverse country like India, the significance of land extends even further. It not only drives urban and rural development but also ties deeply to the nation’s cultural heritage, national growth, and trade.

Many wars and conflicts have arisen over ownership of land, and has long been a symbol of wealth and power. Land is necessary for human existence, for it provides space for agriculture, housing, schools, factories etc.

Who’s biggest zameendar in India?

Most of the land available in India is owned by the government, making it the largest landholder in the country. The second largest landholder is the Catholic Church of India. The Government Land Information System (GLIS) states that as of February 2021, the Central Government of India owned approximately 15,531 square kilometres. This land is divided among 116 public sector companies and 51 central ministries.

Tell me the stats

The Catholic Church of India owns around 7 crore hectares — roughly 17.29 crore acres — across India. This property, which includes the land on which churches and schools are built, is valued in excess of Rs 1 lakh crore.

The land controlled by the Indian government is larger than the land area of a number of nations. For example, it owns more than Qatar (11,586 sq km), the Bahamas (13,943 sq km), Jamaica (10,991 sq km), Lebanon (10,452 sq km), Gambia (11,295 sq km), Cyprus (9,251 sq km), Brunei (5,765 sq km), Bahrain (778 sq km), and Singapore (726 sq km).

Among the ministries in India, the Ministry of Railways holds the largest land area with approximately 2926.6 square kilometres of land, followed by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Coal, each holding around 2580.92 square kilometres of land.

The Ministry of Power, with 1806.69 square kilometres, the Ministry of Heavy Industries with 1209.49 square kilometres, and the Ministry of Shipping with 1146 square kilometres, are also ministries that have substantial land holdings.

The Catholic Church acquired much of its property in India during the time of British colonialism, under the Indian Church Act of 1927. These properties range from Goa in the west to the northeastern states of India. However, there are notable disputes over some parcels of property.

In the colonial period, land was frequently leased to many Christian institutions at an indicative rent. But, in a circular issued in 1965, a senior officer in the Government of India stated that any land leased by the British would no longer be recognized.