✅ What is the CERSAI Portal?
CERSAI is an online centralized registry system established by the Government of India under the SARFAESI Act, 2002 (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act). Its primary objective is to prevent fraudulent loans by maintaining a centralized database of secured assets, such as properties that are mortgaged with banks and financial institutions.
📌 Key Details:
Full Form: Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India
Established under: Section 20 of the SARFAESI Act, 2002
Launched in: March 2011
Governing Body: Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Scope: All loans secured through collateral such as immovable property (e.g., real estate), movable assets, and intangible assets
Website: https://www.cersai.org.in
🎯 Purpose of CERSAI
Before CERSAI existed, there was no centralized mechanism to verify if a property was already mortgaged. Fraudsters exploited this loophole by using the same property to obtain multiple loans from different banks using photocopies of the original documents. CERSAI was created to prevent this malpractice.
The major purposes include:
To maintain a national registry for all property-based secured loans and interests.
To enable banks and financial institutions to check if a property has already been mortgaged elsewhere.
To empower homebuyers and investors to verify the status of a property before making a purchase.
To register transactions related to:
Securitisation of financial assets
Asset reconstruction
Creation of security interest in property (immovable, movable, or intangible)
🏢 Ownership of CERSAI
CERSAI is a Government-owned company operating under the Companies Act, 2013. This structure means that it is a legally incorporated company governed by the provisions of the Companies Act but owned predominantly by the Central Government of India.
Majority Stake: The Central Government holds 51% of the shares, making it the primary stakeholder. This ensures that the government retains control over the operations and functions of CERSAI, ensuring the registry remains in alignment with national policies on transparency, fraud prevention, and financial regulations.
Remaining Stakeholders: The other 49% of the shares are held by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and the National Housing Bank (NHB). This combination of stakeholders, both public and financial entities, ensures that CERSAI is closely aligned with both government objectives and the practical needs of financial institutions. These institutions benefit from the registry in securing loans and preventing fraud in mortgage lending.
Headquarters: The operational headquarters of CERSAI is situated in New Delhi, the capital city of India. This location reflects its status as a national initiative and facilitates close coordination with central government agencies, financial regulators, and other key stakeholders.
🌐 CERSAI Portal Features
The CERSAI Portal (https://www.cersai.org.in) is a user-friendly online platform that provides a range of services for different categories of users. The portal is designed to streamline the process of recording and verifying security interests in properties.
1. Financial Institutions: To Register and Verify Mortgages
Financial institutions, such as banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Housing Finance Companies (HFCs), and other lenders, use the CERSAI portal to register mortgages and verify existing mortgage data on properties. These institutions are required by law to register all secured transactions on the portal, ensuring that their financial interests are legally recognized.
Mortgage Registration: Financial institutions upload mortgage details such as borrower information, property details (address, type, and value), the amount of loan, and the security interest (whether the loan is backed by immovable property, movable property, etc.). These details are essential for ensuring that the financial institution has a valid and legally enforceable claim on the property.
Verification of Mortgages: Before approving new loans, financial institutions can use the portal to verify whether a property has any existing mortgages or encumbrances. This verification ensures that they are not financing properties that already have outstanding financial claims, thus reducing the risk of fraud and bad loans.
2. General Public: To Verify Property Mortgage Status
The CERSAI portal is also accessible to the general public, including individual property buyers, real estate investors, legal professionals, and others interested in verifying the mortgage status of properties.
Public Search: The portal allows anyone to search for properties to confirm whether they are free of encumbrances or if they have already been mortgaged with banks or financial institutions. This service provides transparency and protects buyers from unknowingly purchasing properties that have outstanding financial claims.
Search Options: The portal offers two key types of searches:
Asset-Based Search: Allows users to search using property-related information, such as the property address, type, and location.
Debtor-Based Search: Allows users to search using the debtor’s details, like the borrower’s name or company name, to see the properties mortgaged against the borrower’s loans.
This facility is particularly useful for homebuyers, as they can verify that the property they intend to purchase is legally unencumbered and free from prior claims.
🔐 CERSAI Login: How to Log In
To use the full range of services on the CERSAI portal (especially for financial institutions or registered entities), you must first log in to the portal. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
✅ Steps for CERSAI Login:
Visit the Official Website
Go to the CERSAI official website: https://www.cersai.org.in
The site opens with a simple interface offering different service options including public searches and login options.
Click on the ‘CERSAI Login’ Button
On the top right corner of the homepage, you will see the ‘CERSAI Login’ button.
Click on it to be directed to the login page for registered users.
Enter Your Credentials
Enter your Login ID, Password, and the Captcha Code correctly in the respective fields.
Captcha ensures the request is coming from a human and not an automated system.
Click ‘Login’
Once you’ve filled in the required fields, click the ‘Login’ button to access the dashboard and services available for registered entities.
⚠️ Note: Only registered users such as financial institutions, NBFCs, or other authorized entities can access the full suite of services after logging in.
If you’re a general user (e.g., a property buyer), you don’t need to log in to perform public searches. You can use the Public Search option available on the homepage.
🏠 How to Verify Mortgage Status of a Property on the CERSAI Portal
Verifying the mortgage status of a property is essential before making any real estate transactions. CERSAI offers three methods for this purpose:
🔍 Method 1: Asset-Based Search
This method is useful when you have detailed information about the property but not necessarily about the borrower.
👣 Steps:
Visit the Official Website
Click on ‘Public Search’
On the homepage, click the ‘Public Search’ option. This is available for general users without logging in.
Select ‘Asset-Based Search’
Choose the ‘Asset-Based Search’ option to proceed with a property-based mortgage check.
Choose the Asset Category
You need to specify the type of asset:Immovable (e.g., house, apartment, land)
Movable (e.g., vehicle, equipment)
Intangible (e.g., intellectual property, receivables)
Enter Property Details (For Immovable Assets)
For a real estate property, you must fill out all relevant fields, including:Survey or Municipal Number
Plot Number
House or Flat Number
Floor or Building Name
Project/Society Name
Street, Sector, Locality, Pin Code
State, District, City/Town
Enter Captcha Code
Complete the Captcha verification as prompted.
Pay a Nominal Fee
A small fee (generally between ₹10 to ₹100) is charged per search.
Payments can be made through digital payment modes.
View Mortgage Status
Once the payment is successful, you can view the mortgage registration details, including the lender’s name, amount of secured loan, and registration date (if the property is registered in the CERSAI database).
📌 Tip: Always use exact property information as mentioned in property documents to get accurate results.
👤 Method 2: Debtor-Based Search
This method is helpful if you have information about the borrower, such as their name or organization, and want to check what properties they may have mortgaged.
👣 Steps:
Visit the CERSAI Portal
Click ‘Public Search’
Choose the ‘Public Search’ tab on the homepage.
Select ‘Debtor-Based Search’
Click on ‘Debtor-Based Search’ to start the process.
Enter Borrower’s Details
You will need to enter:Full Name of the Borrower/Debtor
Type of Borrower (Individual, Company, etc.)
Other identifiers, if required (like PAN, date of birth, etc.)
Enter Captcha Code
Pay the Search Fee
View Results
Once the transaction is completed, you’ll be shown the list of assets mortgaged by the debtor, along with the names of the financial institutions that have registered the security interest.
✅ Use Case: Ideal for checking the background of an individual or company before a financial agreement or transaction.
📋 Method 3: AOR-Based Search (Authorized Officer Report-Based Search)
This method is used in more specific cases where the user wants to check enforcement actions taken under the SARFAESI Act, particularly those related to Asset Reconstruction or loan recovery.
👣 Steps:
Visit the CERSAI Portal
Navigate to Public Search
Click on ‘Public Search’
Select ‘AOR-Based Search’
This option allows you to search reports filed by Authorized Officers of banks and financial institutions under SARFAESI proceedings.
Enter Relevant Data
You may need details such as:
Case ID or Enforcement ID
Name of the institution or officer
Details of the property or borrower
Complete Captcha and Payment
View Enforcement Details
If the data exists, you’ll be able to view enforcement actions taken against the borrower/property, such as notice of possession, auctions, etc.
⚠️ This is particularly useful for buyers looking at distressed properties or properties that have undergone or are undergoing recovery proceedings.
🏢 Entity Registration on CERSAI Portal
Before any institution—such as a bank, NBFC, housing finance company, or registered firm—can access the full features of the CERSAI portal (such as asset registration, security interest filing, or SARFAESI-related actions), they need to register their entity on the platform.
👣 Steps to Register an Institution or Firm on CERSAI:
Visit the CERSAI Website
Open your browser and go to the official CERSAI portal: https://www.cersai.org.in
Click on ‘Entity Registration’
From the homepage, look for the ‘Entity Registration’ link and click on it.
This takes you to a dedicated registration section for institutions or firms that wish to participate in secured asset registration or verification.
Choose the Registration Mode
CERSAI provides two primary options to register an entity:🔹 Option 1: CKYC-Based Registration
This method uses the CKYC (Central Know Your Customer) number of the user.
Required fields include:
CKYC Number
Date of Birth (DOB) of the authorized person
The portal will auto-fetch the linked information from the CKYC records.
🔹 Option 2: Digital Signature-Based Registration
For users who possess a valid Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
Required fields:
Employee ID (as assigned by the institution)
Full Name
Email ID
Mobile Number
Date of Birth
These details should match the ones linked with the DSC.
Submit the Form
After filling out all required fields in the chosen method, click ‘Submit’.
Your registration request is then forwarded to CERSAI’s backend team for review and approval.
Approval Notification
Once your application is approved, login credentials are sent to your registered email.
You may now access the portal and carry out institution-level operations such as filing mortgage details, SARFAESI enforcement, etc.
📌 Note: Ensure that the information provided matches the official company/organization records and documents, as mismatches may delay approval.
📝 Conclusion
The CERSAI portal stands as a crucial tool in India’s financial and real estate ecosystems, offering transparency, fraud prevention, and legal protection for both financial institutions and the general public. By maintaining a centralized registry of secured transactions, it empowers banks and NBFCs to make informed lending decisions while enabling property buyers to verify the mortgage status of assets before making commitments.
Whether you’re a financial institution seeking to register security interests, a real estate buyer verifying a property’s status, or a professional tracking SARFAESI-related actions, the CERSAI portal provides a secure and reliable platform for all. With features like public search, entity registration, and digital signature integration, CERSAI promotes trust, reduces risk, and strengthens the country’s financial infrastructure.
By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide, users can effectively navigate the CERSAI portal and ensure that their transactions—whether lending, buying, or verifying—are backed by legal clarity and regulatory compliance.
