Khasra Number, Khata Number & Khatauni Number

Khasra, a Persian term, refers to the plot or survey number assigned to a parcel of land in rural areas. It is akin to survey numbers allotted for plot identification purposes in urban areas. Khasra is recorded in a document called Shajra, which is a map of the village and is essential when trying to access rural land records online/offline.

A Khasra number is important in the following ways: 

• Helps identify a specific property or plot for taxation purposes.

• Provides access to historical land ownership records (up to 50 years).

• Helps assess asset valuation based on location, soil quality, and cropping patterns.

• Keeps landowners informed about government updates and notifications.

• Helps prevent land fraud by verifying rightful ownership.

• Mandatory for sale, purchase, and transfer of agricultural land.

• Required by banks for home loans and mortgages to verify ownership and assess collateral value.

• Essential for obtaining government schemes like PM-Kisan, crop insurance, and subsidies.

• Used in property registration and mutation processes for legal ownership transfer.

Also known as the Khewat number, the Khata number is assigned to the landowners who jointly own a plot of land. These numbers provide details about the landowners as well as all their landholdings. As it is assigned to the landowners, the Khata number changes if one or all the joint holders of a plot decide to sell it.

The Khata number (also referred to as the Khewat number in some states) plays a critical role in land‑record systems across India. It is the unique identifier assigned to a land‑holder or a group of land‑holders, rather than to a specific parcel of land. The following points explain its significance in the context of land ownership, transactions, taxation and dispute‑resolution:

Consolidation of Ownership Records

The Khata number brings together all the plots owned by a particular person or family within a village under one identifier. By doing so, it provides clarity about total holdings rather than dealing with each individual plot independently.
For example, if a family owns three separate parcels in a village, each with its own Khasra number, the Khata number would list all three under the same land‑holder’s account, making record‑keeping and revenue assessment more manageable.

Verification of Ownership and Legal Identity

When buying or transferring land, it is important to verify that the person selling or transferring the property is correctly listed in the land‑records system. The Khata number is a key reference in this process because it links the land‑owner’s name to the plots held under that number. Without a valid Khata number, it may be difficult to prove that the seller holds the land legally, or that all plots belonging to the owner's consolidated holdings are properly accounted for.

Revenue or Taxation and Record‑keeping

Since the Khata number aggregates the owner’s holdings, it serves as the ledger for revenue departments to assess land holdings, levy appropriate land‑tax or land‑revenue, and maintain current records. It also helps village revenue officers track changes in ownership (via sales, inheritance, division) because such changes typically trigger a revision of the Khata record.

Facilitating Land‑transactions and Dispute Resolution

Because the Khata number is unique and tied to the owner or owners rather than individual plots, it simplifies checking whether any of the holdings under that number are subject to dispute, litigation or encumbrance. For instance, when multiple co‑owners exist, the Khata number contains the names of all. In case of ownership transfer, the record under the existing Khata number can be examined to ensure that all plots under that number are accounted for and the transfer process reflects accurately.

Reflecting Changes in Land‑holding Over Time

When land is sold, divided among heirs or gifted, the holdings of the owner may change significantly. The Khata number record helps capture such changes, like names of co‑owners, area held, number of plots, etc. It also ensures the revenue department can update the official register accordingly. Without an up‑to‑date Khata record, there is a higher risk of missing a change in ownership, which can lead to confusion, dispute or fraud.

A Khatauni Number is a unique identifier used in land records to document the ownership and cultivation rights of a landholder over multiple plots within a village. It consolidates information about all the land parcels owned by an individual or family, providing a comprehensive view of their holdings for administrative and legal purposes.

The Khatauni number plays a pivotal role in rural land‑records and has several benefits for landowners, cultivators and revenue authorities alike. Here are its key aspects and why it matters:

Consolidated Record of Land‐ownership and Cultivation

The Khatauni contains a register of all plots held, cultivated or owned by a person or family in a particular village. It is a listing of land‑owners, their names, the cultivators (if any), area held, and related revenue data. This consolidation ensures that both ownership and cultivation rights are properly tracked.

Facilitates Verification of Land‑rights and Administrative Transparency

Since the Khatauni lists names of owners and cultivators, area details, and revenue obligations, it helps verify whether the land is registered under the correct individual, whether cultivation rights exist, and whether any pending dues or tenancy issues are linked with the land. This transparency supports both buyers and authorities in identifying lawful rights and reducing disputes.  

Key Documents in Land‑transactions, Transfers and Inheritance

When land is being sold, gifted, or inherited, the Khatauni number is an important part of the documentation as it reflects the current registered details of the landholder and cultivator. If not accurately updated after a change (such as inheritance, partition or sale), the risk of legal complications increases.

Supports Revenue Assessment and Legal Compliance

The Khatauni record provides input for revenue‑departments to assess tax/land‑revenue on agricultural holdings. It also acts as a record of tenure and cultivation status, which is useful in implementing government schemes, tenancy regulation or land‑management programmes.

Tool for Identifying Tenancy, Cultivation Rights and Encumbrances

As a document that includes details of cultivators (which may differ from the legal owners), the Khatauni helps to identify who is actually farming the land and under what terms. This is especially important in resolving disputes linked to tenancy or share‑cropping, and in keeping the land‑register up to date.

Khasra, Khata, and Khatauni Numbers provide essential information about land ownership and usage in rural areas. Here's a breakdown of the details they offer:

Khasra Number

• Plot Identification: A unique number assigned to a specific land parcel

• Land Details: Size, boundaries, and type of land (agricultural, residential, etc.)

• Ownership: Name of the owner or cultivator

Khata Number

• Group of Plots: Represents multiple plots owned by the same individual or family

• Ownership Consolidation: Lists all plots under a single owner's name within a village

• Property Tax Assessment and Management: Used by authorities to calculate and manage property tax for all plots under one Khata.

Khatauni Number

• Ownership Record: Details about the landholder and their rights to cultivate the land

• Tenancy Information: Includes the names of tenants, if applicable

• Multiple Plot Record: Tracks all plots associated with a single landholder in the village

Though the steps may vary as per the online portals of different states, here are the basic steps on how you can check the required information:

• Visit the official land record portal of your respective state (e.g., Bhulekh, Mahabhulekh, Apna Khata).

• Select the service you need: Khata, Khatauni, or Khasra details

• Choose location details like district, tehsil, taluka, village.

• Enter search criteria:

• Khasra Number (plot identifier)

• Khata Number (account/group of plots)

• Owner’s name

• Complete CAPTCHA verification as required

• Review land record information displayed on the screen (ownership, area, crop details, etc.).

• Download or print the record for reference; certified copies may require a nominal fee.

Use official portals only to avoid fraud and ensure authenticity of records.

Follow these steps to get land records through the traditional method:

• Visit the local revenue office or Tehsil office in the area where the land is located.

• Approach the Patwari or Lekhpal, who maintains land records for the village.

• Provide necessary details such as:

  • Owner’s name

  • Village name

  • Khasra Number or Khata Number (if known)

• Request a copy of the land record (Jamabandi, Khatauni, or Khasra details).

• Verify the details in the record for accuracy (ownership, area, crop details).

• Pay applicable fees for certified copies, if required.

• Get the document signed and stamped by the authorised revenue official for legal validity.

• Keep the certified copy safely for future reference or transactions.

Village authorities assign Khata or Khasra numbers to provide ownership rights to landholders. To create these numbers, the Lekhpal or accountant of the village first refers to ‘Shajra’.

After assessing the land, the Lekhpal assigns a Khasra number to the land and a Khata number to the landowners. Once assigned, these numbers are entered as land records and maintained by Patwari. The Patwari updates these records once the land is sold, gifted, or divided.

Yes, Khata Number and Khewat Number are different, though they are both related to land records:

• Khata Number: Represents a collection of plots owned by an individual or family within a village. It consolidates the land ownership details under a single identifier for ease of record-keeping.

• Khewat Number: Used in some regions, particularly in northern India, to denote the ownership of a landholding. It lists all the owners of a specific piece of land, even if multiple individuals share ownership.

States where the Term ‘Khasra’ is Used

The following states use the term Khasra for land identification:

• Bihar

• Haryana

• Himachal Pradesh

• Jharkhand

• Madhya Pradesh

• Punjab

• Rajasthan

• Uttarakhand

• Uttar Pradesh

In order to make it more convenient for the public to access land records, the Government of India has launched the National Land Records Modernisation Programme (NLRMP). The aim of this programme is the Computerisation of Land Records (CLR).

Under this programme, Uttar Pradesh has digitised its land records, which can be accessed online through Bhulekh mobile application. It lets you view these records and also any changes to the name of the landowner.

Learning the terminology associated with property ownership is essential to get access to land records. Understanding what is a Khasra number and its importance, can help property owners seamlessly access property-related information through the digitised government portals. 

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