Thousands of e-khata applications pending in Bengaluru as software failures and staffing shortages persist

Overview Many residents of Bengaluru are experiencing significant delays, often spanning months, in obtaining their e-khata . This is primarily due to applications being rejected without clear explanations, prolonged pending statuses, and issues related to missing Assistant Revenue Officer (ARO) signatures. Technical mismatches in the city’s new property registration software further compound these problems. Key Issues Missing ARO Signatures One of the primary bottlenecks is the absence of mandatory ARO signatures on applications. According to an official from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) , applications cannot proceed for approval without the ARO’s signature. Delays and absences of AROs at the ward level have resulted in a backlog of pending cases. Even if all other details are correct, the absence of the ARO signature puts the application on hold, necessitating manual checks. This issue affects hundreds of applications across various wards. Software Deficiencies The new property registration software lacks transparency regarding the reasons for application rejection. Applications can only be rejected on three grounds: If the land belongs to the government. If there is a pending court case. If a fraudulent transaction is involved. However, the system fails to flag the specific reason for rejection, forcing officials to manually cross-check each rejected application, which slows down the process and increases the backlog. IT Staff Shortage The GBA faces a shortage of IT staff, which exacerbates the problem. Revenue teams encounter errors related to data mismatches, signature verification, or fee payment entries. The limited technical support hinders quick resolution of these issues, despite the availability of tools. Data Analysis North Corporation Statistics Data from the North Corporation , one of the five corporations under GBA , highlights the scale of the problem. The trends observed in North Corporation are reportedly similar across the city. Nearly 22% of all book-khata applications (more than 3,600 out of 16,931 ) are either rejected or pending. In the new-khata category, over 78% of applications ( 5,367 out of 6,826 ) are stuck, either rejected or pending, since September 10, 2025 . Several wards face significant pendency, with Attur (438) , Thanisandra (410) , and Jakkur (376) showing the highest backlogs. Comparison with Correction-Khata Applications Correction-khata applications, which use an older, more stable workflow, show significantly better performance. Only 1.5% of these applications are pending, and the rejection rate remains around 10% . This indicates that the problem largely lies in the new software modules rather than the khata system as a whole. Impact on Property Transactions The delays in e-khata and new khata approvals are affecting property transactions across Bengaluru . Buyers and builders often cannot complete property transfers until the e-khata is issued, as it is a mandatory document for registration and legal ownership. In wards with high pendency, such as Thanisandra and Jakkur , developers report stalled sales and inability to receive full payments tied to property registration. UPSC Relevance This issue is relevant to GS2 (Governance) and GS3 (Economy) . It highlights challenges in e-governance, urban property management, and the impact of administrative delays on economic activities. Understanding these issues is crucial for Mains questions related to governance, urban development, and economic reforms.