Possession of land has always been and continues to be, viewed as an indication of social status and authority. The pursuit of more territory has been the cause of numerous conflicts and the downfall of many empires throughout history. On the one hand, land has been vital to human advancement since it has been utilized to construct homes, houses of worship, and institutions like schools and factories. Conversely, this highly sought-after organization has been the subject of several scandals, frauds, and property disputes. With a total area of almost 32,87,590 square kilometers, land becomes even more important in a nation like India. The most land owned in India belongs to the government, followed by major entities like the Indian Railways and large corporate groups.
The fundamental inquiry is whether there is sufficient land to accommodate all individuals or even a single individual. It seems not.
Here is a list of the biggest landowners in India, ranked by size and assumed worth, to give you a general impression.
- Government of India
- Indian Armed Forces
- Indian Railways
- Church Properties
- Waqf Properties
- Godrej Properties
- DLF
- L&T Realty
- Indiabulls Real Estate
- Prestige Group
Government of India
| Landowner | Government of India |
|---|---|
| Total Land Ownership | 15,531 square kilometers (2021) |
The Indian government owns more land than any other entity in the nation. Over fifty-one Union Ministries and eleven hundred and sixty-six public sector firms in India have disclosed ownership of at least 15,531 square kilometers of land to the Government Land Information System (GLIS) website as of February 11, 2021. Land ownership rights, geo-positioning maps, and total land area can be found in the GLIS, a centralized database system developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and administered by the Prime Minister’s Office. The government of India is the largest land owner in India as it owns most land in the country.
Indian Armed Forces
| Landowner | Indian Armed Forces |
|---|---|
| Total Land Ownership | 17.99 lakh acres (approx 7280.29 sq km) |
According to the Directorate General of Defence Estates, the Ministry of Defence owns 17.99 lakh acres making it one of the biggest land owners in India. Curiously, just 1.61 lakh acres of land can be found within the 62 cantonments that have been notified making it one of the biggest land holders in India. Including difficult terrains, the remaining 16.38 lakh acres are distributed among 4900 pockets across India. Sites such as field fire ranges, training areas, and defense establishments are located outside of cantonments.
Vivek Dev Jacob
Indian Railways
| Landowner | Indian Railways |
|---|---|
| Total Land Ownership | 4.86 lakh hectares (approx 4860 sq km) |
As of March 31, 2022, the Indian Railways owns a total of 4.86 lakh hectares of land. The Northeast Frontier Railway zone, which is headquartered in Assam and spans certain districts of eastern Bihar and northern West Bengal, has the greatest landholding at 48,357.51 hectares. Northern Railways and Southeastern Railways follow with 44,005.53 and 42,850.92 hectares, respectively and are among the top 3 landholders in India.
Church Properties
| Landowner | Catholic Church |
|---|---|
| Total Land Ownership | 17.29 crore acres |
Among the biggest non-governmental landowners in India, the Catholic Church is a prominent figure. The church acquired territory mostly through the Indian Churches Act of 1927, which transferred land for the propagation of Christianity. It functions through a network of trusts and charity societies. Seven crore hectares, or 17.29 crore acres, of land in India is supposedly owned by the Catholic Church which makes it one of the highest landowners in India. Churches, universities, and schools sit on these pieces of land, which are worth an estimated Rs 20,000 crore altogether and is one of the top 5 largest land owner in India.
Aditya Sankaran
Waqf Properties
| Landowner | Waqf Properties |
|---|---|
| Total Land Ownership | 6 lakh acres (approx 2428 sq km) |
The Waqf Act of 1954 established independent agencies called Waqf boards to oversee Muslim-owned properties. Muslims make up a significant religious minority. Muslim kings typically donated or built these sites, which include madrasas, graveyards, graves, and mosques. Owning about 610,000 immovable properties throughout multiple states in India, Waqf Properties are said to be worth lakhs of crores of rupees, yet the state has no say in how they are managed. With a holdings of almost 6 lakh acres, Waqf Properties are the third-biggest landowner in India.
Godrej Properties
| Landowner | Godrej Properties |
|---|---|
| Founder | Adi Godrej |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Website | godrejproperties.com |
| Products | Residential buildings, Commercial complex, Township |
Godrej & Boyce’s nationwide land holdings remain a mystery, yet the Group is thought to possess over 3,400 acres in Vikhroli, a suburb of Mumbai located in the eastern part of the country. The 14 business divisions of unlisted Godrej & Boyce, which generated INR 14,573.9 crore in sales in FY23, encompass consumer appliances, storage and security solutions, electrical and electric motors, and more. Its production facilities are located in four different Indian states: Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. A statement from Crisil, a rating agency, states that the business earned approximately INR 300 crore in rent in 2023 from the leasing of its commercial real estate. Godrej properties is said to one of the largest land owners in India.
DLF
| Landowner | DLF |
|---|---|
| Founder | Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Website | dlf.in |
| Products | Offices, Apartments, Shopping Malls, Hotels, Golf Courses, Infrastructure |
When Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh established DLF in 1946, he began by establishing 22 urban colonies in Delhi. When the firm first set up shop in the relatively uncharted area of Gurugram in 1985, it was to provide first-rate housing and office facilities for the emerging class of Indian global professionals. Across 15 states and 24 cities, DLF manages residential, commercial, and retail properties, making it the largest publicly listed real estate company in India today. DLF’s net profit recently increased 27% year-on-year to INR 655.71 crore, thanks to stronger income and fewer expenses.
L&T Realty
| Landowner | L&T Realty |
|---|---|
| Founder | Anupam Kumar (CEO and MD) |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Website | lntrealty.com |
| Products | Residential buildings, Commercial Complex, Township, Retail |
Among the real estate developers in India, L&T Realty is a trendsetter and was established in 2011. It is the real estate part of Larsen and Toubro, which is a $33 billion company. The company is currently active in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, the National Capital Region (NCR), Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Its broad portfolio encompasses residential, commercial, and retail developments that total 6.50 million square meters, which is equivalent to 70 million square feet. It is one of the India’s biggest landowners.
Indiabulls Real Estate
| Landowner | Indiabulls Real Estate |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sameer Gehlaut |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Website | indiabullsrealestate.com |
| Products | Residential, Commercial, SEZ Projects |
One of the major real estate businesses in India, Indiabulls Real Estate Limited has a well-diversified presence in residential real estate development across the spectrum, from inexpensive to mid-income to premium to super-luxury space. In addition to having 17 ongoing projects with a total saleable area of 12.4 million square feet, the company is one of the largest real estate companies in the world. As of the 31st of March in 2023, the company had a gross development value of Rs 30,130 crore and a net worth of Rs 6,740.23 crore. Additionally, it is currently in the process of constructing a commercial complex that will have a leasable area of 25.5 million square feet. In addition, the company owns a land bank that spans 1,846 acres and 1,424 acres of special economic zone property in Nasik, which is located in the state of Maharashtra.
Jeenal Jain
Prestige Group
| Landowner | Prestige Group |
|---|---|
| Founder | Razack Sattar |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Website | prestigeprelaunchprojects.com |
| Products | Commercial offices, Apartments, Shopping malls, Villas, Hotels, Golf courses, Leisure and hospitality, Retail |
In addition to the National Capital Region, Prestige Group has a presence in cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mangaluru, Kochi, Kozhikode, Goa, Ooty, Mumbai, and Pune. The company was established in 2016. To date, the group has completed around 288 real estate projects, which encompass a total area of approximately 172 million square feet, and is now one of the biggest landowners in India. These projects include residential developments, such as apartment complexes, row houses, and villas, as well as commercial developments, such as offices, technological parks, special economic zones plotted development, retail, and hospitality. There are currently 56 existing projects totaling around 86 million square feet that are in various phases of development, and there are 43 forthcoming projects that will span approximately 45 million square feet combined.
Conclusion
India’s land resources are at the center of the issues that it will face in the future. From the Land Governance Assessment report published by the World Bank, it is anticipated that by the year 2030, India will require between 4 and 8 million hectares of land solely for residential use. As a result of this increased demand, agricultural land may be subjected to substantial pressure, which may result in social dislocation, food insecurity, inequality, environmental problems, and possibly even violence. Even though the land ecosystem is still being shaped by both government and non-governmental organizations, it is necessary to implement sustainable land management methods to strike a balance between development, environmental preservation, and social fairness.
Archana Karthikeyan
FAQs
Who are the biggest landowners in India?
The top 10 landowners in India are as follows:
- Government of India
- Indian Armed Forces
- Indian Railways
- Church Properties
- Waqf Properties
- Godrej Properties
- DLF
- L&T Realty
- Indiabulls Real Estate
- Prestige Group
Who owns most land in India?
The Indian government owns more land than any other entity in the nation. Over fifty-one Union Ministries and eleven hundred and sixty-six public sector firms in India have disclosed ownership of at least 15,531 square kilometers of land to the Government Land Information System (GLIS) website as of February 11, 2021.
What are the major products of Indiabulls Real Estate?
The major products of Indiabulls Real Estate include Residential, Commercial, and Special Economic Zone projects.
Who owns most land in India after government?
Indian Armed Forces, Indian Railways, Church Properties, Waqf Properties, Godrej Properties, DLF, L&T Realty own most land in India after government.
