Is a property purchased in my spouse's name considered joint property?

Legally, the property registered in your spouse's name generally belongs to them as the recorded owner, regardless of who actually paid for it — Indian property law doesn't automatically treat property as "joint" simply because spouses are married, unless it's specifically registered in both names or there's clear evidence establishing a different arrangement (such as a benami exception specifically recognised for property in a spouse's name, sourced from known, legitimate funds, for their genuine benefit).

If your intention was genuinely to gift the property to your spouse, this arrangement may be entirely valid and simply reflects that gift. But if you always intended to retain beneficial ownership yourself, and simply used your spouse's name for convenience, this could raise complications, including potential issues under benami property law, which generally prohibits holding property in someone else's name while you remain the real, beneficial owner.

Given how significant and fact-specific this issue can be — especially in the event of a future marital dispute or death — it would be wise to consult a property lawyer to understand exactly where things legally stand and what documentation, if any, might help clarify the original intent behind the arrangement.