00 Registration of land and house will be simpler, more accessible and less expensive - Commercial Tax Minister Choudhary 
00 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly passed the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote

Raipur. The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly today passed the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by voice vote. The passage of this bill eliminates the 0.60 percent cess levied on the registration of immovable property based on market value. Commercial Tax Minister Mr. O.P. Choudhary stated that this decision will directly benefit the state's common citizens, farmers, middle-class families, and millions of people involved in the purchase and sale of property.With the abolition of the Chhattisgarh cess, the cost of property registration will now decrease. For example, citizens will directly save approximately ₹60,000 on a property with a market value of ₹1 crore. This will make land and property registration more accessible, simpler, and less expensive. Presenting the bill in the Assembly on this occasion, Minister Mr. Chaudhary said that this bill is not merely a legal amendment, but a powerful symbol of the state government's commitment to public interest, public welfare, and equitable reforms in the tax system. He said that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Dev Sai, is of the clear opinion that the objective of governance is not merely to generate revenue, but to make people's lives simple, accessible, and dignified.

Commercial Tax Minister Mr. Chaudhary stated that the state government, through GST 2.0 in September 2025, provided extensive tax concessions on goods and services used by the general public, reducing the cost of living for ordinary citizens. In this vein, several historic, practical, and public-friendly reforms have been implemented in the Registration Department, aimed at reducing the financial burden on the public and simplifying services. He explained that the automatic name transfer system has proven to be extremely beneficial for the public. Immediate name transfer after registration has not only provided financial savings to parties but also relieved them of the months-long name transfer process. Since May 2025, nearly 150,000 documents have been successfully transferred automatically.To make the registration system more robust and transparent, a convenient mobile app has been developed, which helps ensure the accurate geographical location of properties. Furthermore, Aadhaar-based verification has been implemented in registration offices to prevent fraudulent individuals from concealing their identities. For the convenience of citizens, the department is equipping registration offices with all the amenities they need, similar to visa offices, at no additional cost. This includes air-conditioned waiting rooms, clean drinking water, clean toilets, free Wi-Fi, and queue-based, quick registration. Currently, 10 registration offices are being developed as smart registration offices on a PPP basis, with other offices to be upgraded in a phased manner.

Chaudhary stated that the government has improved the registration fee system. Previously, property registration fees were charged based on the higher of the guideline value and market value. This change has now linked the registration fee to the guideline value rather than the transaction value, providing relief to a large number of families. For example, if the guideline value of a property is ₹10 lakh, but the document shows ₹25 lakh due to bank loans, the fee will now be charged only on ₹10 lakh. This decision has resulted in the state government sacrificing revenue of approximately ₹170 crore.
Chaudhary explained that previously, registration fees were charged at 0.8 percent of the market value for family registrations such as donations, partitions, and relinquishments. The government has reduced this to just ₹500, regardless of the property's value. For example, the fee previously charged for donating property worth ₹1 crore (approximately ₹80,000) has now been reduced to just ₹500, providing significant relief to ordinary families and farmers.
Extensive public-friendly reforms have also been made in guideline pricing. The square meter-based valuation system has been abolished, eliminating excessive valuations even for small plots of land in rural areas. Valuations are now based on hectare rates. This is estimated to benefit the public by ₹300 to ₹400 crore (approximately ₹300-₹400 crore).
Minister Mr. Chaudhary stated that the government has also eliminated provisions such as the two-and-a-half-fold valuation applicable to agricultural land in rural areas, various additional valuations in cities and villages, and separate valuations for trees on land. This has reduced unnecessary financial burden on the public and promoted environmental protection. Providing relief to urban middle-class families, flats are now valued based solely on built-up area instead of super built-up area. Additionally, unnecessary additional assessments due to factors such as boundary walls and plinths have also been eliminated.
Chaudhary stated that the government has also taken important steps in the interest of farmers. Previously, additional assessments were imposed on land holdings such as double-crop land, cash crops, and fish ponds, increasing the financial burden. Now, by eliminating these provisions, agricultural land transactions have been made more convenient, equitable, and cost-effective. The Minister informed the House that a cess on the transfer of immovable property was provided under the Chhattisgarh Cess Act, 1982. In 2023, the then government imposed a cess at the rate of 12 percent in addition to the stamp duty to fund the Chhattisgarh Employment Mission and the Rajiv Gandhi Mitra Club Scheme. This resulted in citizens incurring an additional burden of approximately 0.60 percent of the market value on property registration.
Commercial Tax Minister Mr. Chaudhary stated that the Rajiv Gandhi Mitra Club Scheme is currently not operational, and employment-related schemes are now funded from the state's general budget. Consequently, the purpose for which this cess was imposed is no longer relevant. In line with this vision, the decision has been made to abolish this unnecessary cess to provide relief to the public.
The Minister explained that the state government received revenue of approximately ₹148 crore from the cess in 2024-25, and approximately ₹150 crore has been collected so far in the current financial year. While the abolition of the cess will result in a revenue loss for the government, the public will directly benefit, and this is the core of the government's policies.
He further stated that through this amendment, it is proposed to remove the cess-related provisions contained in Sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Schedule of the Chhattisgarh Cess Act, 1982. The cess imposed on the registration of immovable property transfer deeds will now be completely abolished.
This government decision and the reforms made in the Registration Department will provide numerous direct benefits to the people of the state. Property registration fees will be reduced, land and property registration will become more affordable, middle-class and low-income families will receive relief, document registration will increase, farmers and families will receive direct economic benefits, and the market value of property and economic activity will also be boosted.
Minister Mr. Choudhary said that the state government has always adhered to the principle that the people of Chhattisgarh should not be burdened with unnecessary taxes. This decision and this series of reforms will provide relief to millions of citizens who use their life's earnings to purchase land, build homes, divide property within their families, or transfer property for their children's future. This is not just a tax reduction, but a reflection of a government sensitive to the hard work, dreams, and rights of the people. He said that due to the public-friendly reforms made in the Registration Department since the Vishnu Dev government came to power, the public will directly benefit the public by ₹460 crore annually through concessions in registration fees.
Cess on immovable property registry abolished, big relief to common citizens - Chief Minister Sai 
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai stated that the abolition of the 0.60 percent cess imposed on the registration of immovable property through the Chhattisgarh Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is an important decision taken by our government in the public interest. He stated that our government's clear objective is to ensure that ordinary citizens, farmers, and middle-class families are not burdened with any unnecessary financial burden. Keeping good governance, transparency, and public welfare at the core of the state, we are continuously simplifying, refining, and improving the tax system. The Chief Minister stated that this decision is not just a tax relief, but a meaningful initiative towards honoring the dreams of millions of families who purchase homes and land with their hard-earned money. He expressed confidence that this step will increase property registration, accelerate economic activity, and provide new impetus to the creation of a developed Chhattisgarh.