RERA completed a decade in 2026, and the verdict is genuinely mixed. The Act transformed the sector — project registrations have crossed 1.6 lakh, the 70% escrow rule ring-fenced buyer funds, and developers faced real legal consequences for delays for the first time. Residential sales in top-8 cities hit a 13-year high in 2023-24 as buyer confidence returned.
But the gaps were real too. State RERAs varied wildly in enforcement. Dispute resolution dragged for months or years. In February 2026, the Chief Justice of India described state RERAs as a "rehabilitation centre" for disappointed buyers — a damning observation for a decade-old consumer protection law.
Enter RERA 2.0, launched in March 2026. Key changes worth knowing:
1. Digital construction dashboards — buyers can track real-time progress, approvals and fund utilization via QR codes on project sites.
2. Third-party escrow audits — the 70% fund rule now has independent audits and regular reporting, not just developer self-declarations.
3. Faster dispute resolution — grievances targeted to be resolved in 60-90 days (vs. the current average of 12+ months in many states).
4. Expanded project coverage — developers who escaped RERA by claiming their project started before 2016 will now be brought under the framework.
5. Developer ratings — public records of past delivery track records will let buyers compare builders before booking.