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India’s land record system was primarily organised during the Mughal period. Although a lot has changed since then, vis-à-vis land and revenue record keeping in India, the terminology remains much the same, with many terms having their roots in Arabic, Persian and Hindi.
We look at 50 such terms commonly used in India’s land and revenue record system and find out what they mean in layman’s terms.
Top 10 land record terms
While there are numerous land and revenue record terms in India, some are referred to more often than others, especially if you are trying to check land records online. Here are some of the top commonly used terms.
| Term | Hindi | English |
| Jamabandi/Fard | जमाबन्दी | It is the records of rights (RoR), containing information about the land, its owners and its cultivators, etc. |
| Khata | खाता | Khata describes all landholding of a family or individuals. |
| Khasra | खसरा | This is the survey number or the plot number assigned to a land parcel. |
| Khatauni | खतौनी | This document has details of about land holdings of cultivators. |
| Khewat | खेवट | This is a list of a landowner’s entire landholding. |
| Nakal | नकल | A copy of land records, a nakal contains every information about, land, ownership pattern, revenue, etc. |
| Khudkasht | खुद काश्त | This signifies that a land is being cultivates by its owners and not by cultivators. |
| Mauza | मौजा | This is the term used for village. |
| Bainama | बैनामा | This is the term used for sale deed. |
| Patta and pattanama | पट्टा, पट्टानामा | When a land parcel is given on lease, it is known as patta. Its mutation is known as pattanama. |
15 land ownership record terms
Here are some other complex terms you would come across, while checking land records in India:
| Term | Hindi | English meaning |
| Batai
| बटाई | While this could loosely be translated into ‘division’, the system actually means an arrangement between the owner and cultivator, to grow crops and share it on certain terms. |
| Intkal | इन्तकाल | In land records, this stands for mutation, i.e., a change in ownership of land due to its transfer in the records of rights register. |
| Dakhil Kharij | दाखिल ख़ारिज | Property mutation is also known as dakhil-kharij. |
| Varsal | वरसाल | This is property mutation upon the death of or through a will of the owner. |
| Virasat | विरासत | Virasat is basically inheritance. |
| Hibba | हिब्बा | Mutation when the land is gifted to someone. |
| Tabdeel Malkiat | तब्दील मलकियत | Mutation, after the settlement of dispute by a court order. |
| Fard Badr | फर्द बदर | The process of making a correction in land record is known as fard badar. |
| Shajra Nasab | शजरा नसब | A table showing succession to ownership rights occurring from time to time. |
| Shajra kishtwar | शजरा किश्तवार | An updated version of an original map is known as shajra kishtwar. |
| Shajra parcha | शजरा परचा | A piece of cloth/paper used by patwaris, to draw maps incorporating all changes in land ownership. |
| Lagaan | लगान | If land is not cultivated by the owner, the person cultivating the land is liable to pay to the owner on agreed terms. This agreement is known as lagaan. |
| Lal dora | लाल डोरा | The non-agricultural land meant to be used by villagers to support them. |
| Bahissa barabar | बहिस्सा बराबर | Equal division of land. |
| Rafai-aam or revenue raasta | रफाइ आम | In government records of northern states, access roads are referred to as revenue rassta or rafai-aam. |
1 bonus term: Najul (नज़ूल)
In India, the term nazool or najul is used for land belonging to the government. It also refers to any property, including land or building structures in towns and villages, which has been escheated to the government. Also the land which is the government’s property and which is not forming part of the records in the account of any village or town, is known and spelt as najool, as well as najul land.
25 common land and revenue records terms
Here are some other commonly used terms you must familiarise yourself with:
| Term | Hindi | English meaning |
| Nambardar | नंबरदार | The village headman |
| Tatima | ततीमा | Division of plot |
| Khaka | खाका | Layout or sketch |
| Kurki | कुर्की | Impounding a property |
| Jamaan | जमां | Land tax |
| Hadbast number | हदबस्त | Village serial number |
| Had | हद | Village/land boundary |
| Kanungo | कानूनगो | Head of patwaris |
| Kashtkar | कास्तकार | Cultivator |
| Malguzari | मालगुजारी | Land tax |
| Medh | मेण्ड | Field boundary |
| Shajra | शजरा | Detailed village map |
| Tatima Shajra | ततीमा शजरा | Map prepared after the division of a plot |
| Paimaish | पैमाईश | Land measurement |
| Rapat | रपट | Mutation |
| Rahin | रहन | Mortgage Deed |
| Marusi | मौरूसी | Permanent cultivator |
| Mukhtiarnama | मुख्तियारनामा | Licence |
| Chahi | चाही | land irrigated using well water |
| Chak tashkhish | चक तशखीश | Land type |
| Kilabandi | किलाबंदी | Rectangular measurement of land |
| Khaka dasti | खाक दस्ती | Hand sketch of map |
| Patwari | पटवारी | Village accountant |
| Mustari | मुस्तरी | Land buyer |
| Musavi | मुसावी | Original map |
Additional terms
Murrabha: Plot comprising of 25 acres of land.
Gair dakhildar: Unauthorised permanent possession.
Rehan: Mortgage with possession.
Chakautha (चकौता): Land revenue in cash.
Gerinda: The receiver of a gift.
FAQs
What is patta?
When a land is taken on lease, it is known as patta.
What is mauza?
A village is sometimes referred to as mauza, in land records.
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