The Directorate of Land Records and Survey was established in the year 1973 with its Headquarter at Kohima, and then it was shifted to Dimapur during August 1975. In Nagaland, land belongs to the people and its Administration is by Traditional system and Customary Law of each Tribes. The Department activities are restricted to Administration and maintenance of Land Records of Government Lands such as Towns, Administrative Headquarter and Government Pocket Land. Land Records System exists in and around Dimapur Mouza, Towns Administrative Headquarter and Govt. acquired lands only. In the initial stage the activities of the Department was mostly in and around Dimapur only. Now, with awareness, all Administrative Headquarters and other Government Lands are being Surveed and District Offices in all the Districts are headed by Land Records & Survey Officers with the field staff. The Department is headed by Chief Minister assisted by Parliamentary Secretary and Secretary as HOAD. The Department looks after the Revenue Administration and Land Records and Survey.

The main functions of the Directorate are listed below:

a) Cadastral Survey:

i) All Administrative Head Quarters and towns in the State.

ii) Land requisition/acquisition.

b) Village recognition.

c) Render technical assistance to district administration in land settlement and revenue administration.

d) Construction, maintenance & updating of Land Records.

e) State Mapping Agency