With rapid changes being brought to registration process in Karnataka to provide ease to the public, the Karnataka government will now hire highly qualified tech professionals at market prevailing wages, including those with knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning, to adapt to technological advances.The move comes at a time when the department is looking to go beyond scanned document-based system to digital system based on GIS, and a switch from web-based applications to mobile apps and IoT devices.The implementation of proposed digital e-stamp and GIS-based valuation for fixing guidance value to prevent leakage among other services is expected to be hastened.Kaveri Technical CellAs many as 39 highly skilled tech persons are to be hired at the prevailing market wages through a man power agency to the new in-house Kaveri Technical Cell, which was formally notified on Monday after it received the Cabinet nod last week.The cell, which with its own manpower, will pilot the future additions to the Kaveri console or even redevelop Kaveri software as per needs, was announced in 2025-2026 Budget, and has an allocation of ₹69.13 crore for a period of five years.It will work to ensure continuous development, maintenance, and enhancement of the Kaveri 2.0 as the software is expected to constantly adapt to legal amendments, new integrations and operational changes.According to sources, changes are coming in due to amendments to the Karnataka Stamp Act, 1957, Registration Act, 1908, and Karnataka Registration Rules 1965, and promulgation of new rules such as Karnataka Digital eStamps Rules 2025.“Each change in law or procedure requires corresponding modifications in the software.”“Currently, the Centre for e-Governance is providing software update and integration support. It is burdened with work from other departments too. There were issues, including quality of work since expectation and execution differed,” said an official in Revenue Department. “This initiative will come at half the cost of hiring a tech company for the same work. The cell will bring speed, flexibility, cost efficiency, and larger control on priorities.”System upgradesThe manpower will be hired through a manpower agency, and will handle system upgrades, integrations, bug fixes, and performance monitoring under the supervision of the department officials. The work performance will be evaluated by an expert committee.Sources said that retaining the existing software developers was also a challenge since industry wages were very high, and a fixed salary for a particular work was found not to be working.Published - November 11, 2025 01:28 am IST