Defence Estates Day Celebrations of 100th Year | 16 Dec 2025

Why in News? 

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will preside over the Defence Estates Day celebrations at Raksha Sampada Bhawan, Delhi Cantonment, on 16 December 2025, marking the 100th year of the Defence Estates Department.  

Key Points 

• Celebrations & Awards: Raksha Mantri will confer the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence in public service for Defence Land Management and Municipal Administration across 61 Cantonment Boards. 
• Centenary Significance: The event marks the 100th anniversary of the Defence Estates Department, with origins tracing back to Barrackpore in 1765 and formalisation on 16 December 1926. 
• Defence Estates Role: The Department manages the largest landholding of the Government of India under the Ministry of Defence. 
• Digital Transformation: Modernised land management with projects like E-Chhawani, providing 100% municipal services online to ~20 lakh cantonment residents. 
• Awards Recognition: Won the National Water Awards for Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari for efforts in water conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies. 
• Digitisation: Complete digitisation of legacy land records, ensuring preservation, easy retrieval, and secure archival. 
• Raksha Bhoomi Platform: A centralised software ‘Raksha Bhoomi’ serves as a unified repository of all defence land records on secure servers. 
• Advanced Survey Tools: Uses Differential GPS, GIS tools and high-resolution satellite imagery to improve land accuracy and management. 
• Tech Innovation: Centre of Excellence on Satellite and Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative leverages AI/ML and emerging technologies for next-generation defence land management solutions.