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Common Land and Revenue Record Terms in India

Use this glossary to better understand some of the most crucial and popular terminology used in the context of land and revenue records in India.

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Many of the land and revenue terms used in official documentation are rooted in Arabic and Persian. However, due to the numerous dialects in India, it may be challenging to know all of the regularly used words in land and revenue records.

Bhulekh, Khasra, Khata, Jamabandi, Satbara (7/12), Khatauni, Pahani, and Patta are some of the essential land record words. Since these are uncommon but essential words, you should know their exact meaning before you choose to sell or purchase land.

So, here is a look at the various land record terms and their meaning.

Top 10 Land and Revenue Record Terms in 2025

Here are the top 10 land revenue terms that you must know about.

Term	What does it Mean
Jamabandi	This refers to documents with information of a landowner, the land, and its cultivators. It is an ROR (Record of Rights).
Khata	It is a comprehensive document that contains information about all the landholdings of an individual or a family.
Khasra	It is a number allotted to a piece of land and is unique to each piece of land.
Khatauni	It is a document containing details about the landholdings of the cultivators.
Khewat	A document containing the list of all the land owned by a landowner.
Nakal	It is a copy of land records that contains all the information about the land, like its owner, revenue, etc.
Khudkasht	It refers to a piece of land that is cultivated by its owner and not the cultivators.
Mauza	A term used for a village or administrative district.
Bainama	It is a popular term used for sale deeds.
Patta and Pattanama	A piece of land given on lease is termed Patta. The mutation of Patta is known as Pattanama.

15 Land Ownership Record Terminology in 2025

Here are 15 land ownership record terms that you might not know about.

Term	What does it Mean
Batai	The core meaning of this term is the settlement made between the owner and the cultivator on the growing of crops and sharing its profit.
Intkal	Intkal is a term used for change in ownership of land. This change could be because of several reasons like inheritance, survivorship, transfer by a registered deed, lease, or bequest.
Dakhil Khairj	It is another word used for property mutation.
Varsal	It is a term used for the mutation of a piece of land due to the death of the owner or on his will.
Virasat	The term is used for inheritance.
Hibba	It is a term used for mutation when a piece of land is gifted to someone.
Tabdeel Malkiat	It is a term used for the mutation when the settlement is made over a piece of land after the orders of the court.
Fard Badr	When there is any change or correction made in a land record, it is known as Fard Badr.
Shajra Nasab	It is primarily a hierarchical table showing the succession of land ownership of land from time to time.
Shajra Kishtwar	When a map is updated according to the new changes, it is known as Shajra Kishtwar.
Shajra Parcha	It refers to a piece of paper or cloth that Patwaris use to draw maps of the land to include the changes of land ownership.
Lagaan	Lagaan refers to the payment made by the cultivator to the owner of the land on the terms agreed by both parties.
Lal Dora	It is the non-agricultural lands that are meant to be used by the villagers.
Bahissa Barabar	It means equal division of the land.
Rafai-aam or Revenue Raasta	It is a term used in North Indian states. It refers to the access roads of North Indian States.

Common Land and Revenue Record Terms in 2025

Here is a list of common land and revenue record terms and their meaning to help you understand them better.

Term	What does it Mean
Abadi Deh	Inhabited site of village
Badastur	Unaltered
Banjar	Uncultivable land
Banjar Jadid	Land which has not been cultivated for four continuous harvests
Banjar Kadim	Land which has not been cultivated for eight continuous harvests
Barani	Land cultivated by rainwater
Baya	Seller of land
Bigha	A measurement of area
Biswa	One-twentieth of a bigha
Biswansi	One-twentieth of a biswa
Chahi	Land irrigated using well water
Chahi Nahri	Irrigated partly from a canal and then partly from a well
Chak Tashkhish	Land classification
Chakautha	Land revenue in cash
Chari	Millet grown for fodder
Chaukidar	Watchman of a village
Chkota	Lump grain rent or rent consisting a fixed amount of grain in the kharif and rabi
Dholi	Death bed gift/A small plot of land to a Brahmin
Do Fasali	A land producing two crops per year
Gair Dakhilda	Unauthorised and permanent possession
Gair-Mumkin	Barren (Uncultivable)
Gerinda	The receiver of a gift
Girdawar	Kanungo/supervisor of Patwaris
Girdawari	Harvest inspection
Gosha	Corner
Hadh	Land or village boundary
Hadbast Number	Village serial number
Jamaan	Land tax
Kalar	Barren land
Kanal	A measure of area
Kanungo	Head of Patwaris
Karam	Unit of length
Kashtkar	Cultivator
Khaka Dasti	Sketch of land made by hand
Khaka	Sketch or layout of a plot
Kharaba	Portions of crops which have failed to come
Kharif	Autumn harvest
Khasra Girdawari	Harvest inspection register
Khud Kashat	Something that is cultivated by the owner themself
Kilabandi	Rectangular measurement of land
Kukri	Impounding a property
Latha Girdawari	Cloth copy of the map of the patwari
Malguzari	Land tax
Marla	Measuring of area
Marusi	Permanent cultivator
Medh	Field boundary
Min	Part/Portion
Misal Haqiyat	A record of right
Mukhtiarnama	Licence
Murrabha	A plot of 25 acres of land
Musavi	Original map
Mustari	Land buyer
Nahri	Canal-Irrigated
Naib-Tehsildar	The deputy or assistant of tehsildar
Nambardar	The Headmen of the village
Paimaish	Measurement of land
Parat Patwar	Patwari copy of the new settlement record
Parat Sarkar	Government copy of the new record of settlement
Patwari	Village accountant
Rahin	Deed of mortgage
Rapat	Mutation
Rehan	Mortgage with possession
Sabik	Former
Shajra	Village map in a detailed way
Sub-divisional magistrate	An in-charge of tehsildar
Taccavi	Government granted loan offered to an owner of a land for agriculture purposes
Tatima Shajra	Updated map of land after its division
Tatima	Division of plot
Waris	Successor
Wasil Baqi Nawis	Tehsil revenue accountant
Wattar	Diagonal line
Zamindar	Owner of the land

Other Important Terms Related to Land Records

Here are some more related terms that can be important in the context of land records:

Term	What does it Mean
Aabi	Land that is watered by methods other than a canal or a well.
Ad-Rahin	Land mortgaged where possession has not been handed over to the lender.
Aks Shajra	A reproduced copy of the village map (Shajra).
Awwal / Doyam / Soyam	First, second and third priority mortgagees in a chain of mortgages on the same parcel.
Ba Hukam Adalat	An action or entry made pursuant to a court order.
Bandobast	The complete survey, measurement and revenue assessment process for land records.
Banaam	Registered or recorded “in the name of” a person.
Bai	Mutation resulting from the sale (transfer) of land.
Bewa	A widow.
Billa	Indicates absence or “without” in record contexts.
Chaharam	One-quarter share of the crop yield.
Chahi Mustar	Land irrigated using water that has been purchased for that purpose.
Dehinda	The person who gives a gift of land.
Dukhtar	A daughter.
Fak-Ul-Rahin	Entry recording release of mortgaged land after the borrower repays the debt.
Fard	An individual/family extract of the Record of Rights showing owners, area and liabilities.
Field Book	A record book listing measured dimensions and calculated area of each field.
Gair Marusi	A temporary or unauthorised cultivator/tenant.
Garv	Denotes the west direction on maps or descriptions.
Gora Deh Bhumi	Land that lies adjacent to or around a village.
Goth	The clan or lineage (gotra) reference for a family.
Haal	The present or current status of the land or entry.
Hamsheera	A sister.
Haqdar	A person who has entitlement or legal claim to land.
Ikrarnama	A mutual agreement or written declaration between parties.
Jadid Settlement	A fresh settlement involving full re-measurement and creation of new records.
Jalsa Aam	A public meeting or gathering.
Janib	Means “towards” (used in directional or descriptive entries).
Janub	Denotes the south direction.
Jinsavar	A headman’s register listing crops grown in the village.
Jwar	A type of millet (sorghum) crop.
Kalan	Signifies the larger or major portion (big).
Kankoot	An estimate or assessment of crop produce.
Kanooni Settlement	A regular first-time settlement carried out where no prior records exist.
Karguzari	A progress or performance report in revenue administration.
Khali Saal Tamam	Land that remained uncultivated for the entire year.
Khurd	Signifies the smaller portion (small).
Khush Hasiyat	Describes land or entry in good condition/status.
Kism Zameen	The category or class of the land (land type).
Kurki	Attachment or legal seizure of property.
Lagaan-e-Bilmukta Saal Tamam	A pre-fixed annual net land revenue payable for the year.
Lal Kitab	The village notebook prepared at settlement containing soil, crop and land-use notes.
Lambardar	The village headman responsible for revenue collection and local representation.
Lavald	A record entry used to indicate updated or particular details (as shown in a land register online).
Mahaal	A revenue estate or village unit.
Majkoor	Indicates “as above” or repetition in records (ditto).
Malik	The registered owner of the land.
Mauza Bechirag	A deserted or uninhabited village/settlement.
Mend	A boundary line defining the edge of a field or plot.
Mufasal Jamabandi	A descriptive/detailed Jamabandi (expanded Record of Rights).
Mujaara	A tenant cultivator who pays rent to the landowner.
Mukhtiarnama Aam	A general licence or ordinary power of attorney.
Mukhtiarnama Khaas	A special licence or specific power of attorney.
Mundraza	An entry meaning “as written above” or “same as noted.”
Murtahin	The mortgagee — the person who advances a loan against land.
Mutation	Any official update in land records reflecting a transfer or change in title.
Nautaud	The process of converting previously uncultivable land into cultivable land.
Neelaam	Disposal of property by public auction.
Nisafi	A half share (one-half portion) of the crop or produce.
Paimana Pital	A brass measuring scale used for drawing maps or plans.
Panj Duvanji	A two-fifths share of the harvest.
Patti / Taraf / Thola / Panna	Subunits or community groupings within a village (by clan/area).
Pisar Mutbanna	An adopted son (legal/recorded).
Pisar / Wald	Son.
Rabi	The winter/spring cropping season (rabi crop).
Rahin Bakabza	Land mortgaged where possession has been given to the mortgagee.
Saalana	Annual or yearly.
Sakunat	Place of residence or dwelling.
Salam	Entirely; fully.
Settlement	The process of surveying, measuring and fixing revenue with fresh records.
Shamlat	Land held collectively by a group or community (common land).
Shamlat Deh	Common land belonging to the whole village.
Shamlat Thola	Common land associated with a particular thola (subgroup).
Shamlat Panna	Common land belonging to a specific panna (subdivision).
Shamlat Patti	Common land assigned to a patti (community grouping).
Shark	East direction.
Shumal	North direction.
Sub-Division	An administrative unit below a district (a sub-division).
Summary Settlement	A temporary settlement using hand-sketches; not treated as definitive.
Tabadala	Mutual exchange of land between owners, recorded as a mutation.
Takseem	Partition of jointly held land recorded as a mutation.
Takseem Khanagi	Division of family land among members (private partition).
Takseem Ba Hukam Adalat	Partition effected by a court order.
Tarmeem Settlement	A settlement that only amends records without fresh measurement.
Tarmeem	An amendment or correction in the records.
Teen Chaharam	A three-quarter share of the harvest.
Tehsildar	The revenue officer in charge of a tehsil (sub-district).
Tihai	One-third share of the crop or produce.
Waldiyat	Father’s name as recorded in registers.
Walid	Father.
Walida	Mother.
Wattar	A diagonal line used on maps or plans to show measurements.

How to Use These Terms When Checking Land Records

These terms help you understand what each entry in a land record actually represents. When you open a Jamabandi, Khasra, Khatauni, or mutation sheet, you’ll see many of these words used as headings, remarks, or status notes. Here’s how they can guide you:

Ownership & Title:

Terms like Malik, Haqdar, Virasat, Varsal, Mutation, Bai, Tabadala, and Takseem show who owns the land, how ownership changed, and whether it happened through sale, inheritance, or partition.

Land Type & Use:

Words such as Barani, Chahi, Nahri, Banjar, Kism Zameen, or Khud Kasht tell you the kind of land, how it’s irrigated, and who cultivates it.

Boundaries & Maps:

Entries like Shajra, Aks Shajra, Tatima, Mend, Wattar, and Musavi relate to maps, field limits, and plot divisions.

Tenancy & Possession:

Terms like Gair Marusi, Mujaara, Marusi, Rahin, Rahin Bakabza, or Ad-Rahin indicate who is in possession and whether the land is mortgaged or leased.

Revenue & Crop Details:

Words like Lagaan, Jamabandi, Girdawari, Rabi, Kharif, and Kankoot help you read tax details, crop entries, and seasonal cultivation status.

In short, these terms help you interpret ownership, boundaries, cultivation, tax status, and historical changes in a land record.

Importance of Understanding Land and Revenue Terms

Understanding land and revenue terms in India is crucial for transparency in transactions, avoiding legal disputes, and simplifying property management. Here are some key benefits:

Prevents Legal Disputes:

Clear understanding of terms like boundaries and ownership rights minimises conflicts that can lead to costly legal battles.

Ensures Legal Compliance:

Knowing land records and their terminology helps you stay compliant with legal requirements and keeps your property records up-to-date.

Simplifies Property Management:

Whether you are buying, selling, or inheriting property, the right knowledge makes the process much smoother and less complex.

Facilitates Financial Transactions:

Accurate and understandable land records are vital for obtaining loans against property, as lenders assess tax compliance and history when evaluating eligibility.

Increases Transparency:

It promotes a clear and transparent process in property dealings, which builds confidence among buyers, sellers, and lenders.

Protects Ownership:

Up-to-date land records serve as proof of ownership and protect you against third-party claims.

Conclusion

When planning to purchase a new house or plot, it is critical to be aware of all the relevant terms. This will help you not only get the best deal possible but also ensure you do not miss any legal formality. If you wish to apply for a home loan to buy your new property, you can easily get one at Bajaj Markets at affordable interest rates. Apply online today for a simple, hassle-free process requiring minimal information.

Khasra Number, Khata Number & Khatauni Number	Tamil Nadu Encumbrance Certificate Online
IGR Odisha - Encumbrance Certificate Odisha Online	Non-Encumbrance Certificate
E-Swathu Karnataka	Encumbrance Certificate Online in Andhra Pradesh
Land Survey Number	IGRSUP
Encumbrance Certificate in Kerala	IGR Maharashtra
Encumbrance Certificate Puducherry Online	IGRS Telangana

FAQs

What is Patta?

Patta is a government issued Record of Rights, a document that mentions the name of the legal owner of a property. Those lands having undivided shares are not liable to issue Patta.

What is Mauza?

Mauza is another name for village or gram. It refers to an administrative district that may comprise more than one or two settlements within its boundary.

What is ROR in land records?

ROR stands for Record of Rights. It contains the transaction history of a property along with the name of the legal owner of the land or property. It also has other information about land classification, limits of every owner’s right and liabilities, and other such information.

What does Khasra mean?

Khasra is the plot number given to a piece of land. It is a unique number issued for every piece of land and used in the process of establishing one’s rights over a piece of land.

What is 1B and Adangal?

1B and Adangal are two different land documents. 1B contains the information of the land owner and is kept by the Tehsildar. Adangal is a document that contains information about the owner and the land, like the crops grown, possession type, and more.

What are Form I, Form XIV, and Form D in land records?

Form I, Form XIV, and Form D are not standardised land record forms that are recognised just by that name across India. For example. Form I & XIV are often presented together and serve as proof of land ownership in Goa. From a more general perspective, here’s what these forms tend to signify (in their respective terminologies across Indian states):

Form I: An ownership extract listing proprietor, plot area and rights; used by revenue officers for title proof and records.
Form XIV: The mutation register recording transfers, sales, inheritance and title changes; it updates ownership history officially.
Form D: A village map extract showing parcel boundaries and survey numbers accurately.

Are land record terms the same in all Indian states?

historical, linguistic, and administrative differences. For example, the document for the ‘Record of Rights’ is called ‘Jamabandi’ in Punjab and Haryana, ROR in Maharashtra, and ‘Pahani’ or ‘Adangal’ in Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh. A specific survey number might be called ‘Khasra’ in one state but a ‘Gath Number’ in another.