Khatiyan, jamabandi, khesra, rakba, dakhil-kharij — if your family’s land papers in Bihar read like a foreign language, you’re not alone. Here are 103 land and revenue terms in Hindi, Roman script and plain English, a simple map of how the records fit together, and a working converter for bigha, katha, dhur and decimal.
हिन्दी सार: बिहार के भूमि अभिलेखों में खाता, खेसरा, रकबा, चौहद्दी, खतियान, जमाबंदी और दाखिल-खारिज जैसे शब्द बार-बार आते हैं। इस पेज पर 103 शब्दों के सरल हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ, रिकॉर्ड्स का आपसी रिश्ता और बीघा-कट्ठा-धुर-डिसमिल का कन्वर्टर है। नीचे खोज बॉक्स में हिन्दी या अंग्रेज़ी, किसी भी भाषा में शब्द खोजिए।
103terms explained
6categories
3 waysHindi · Roman · English
1unit converter
Start with six words
Most land papers become readable once you know these six. They also tell you where everything else fits.
खाताKhataAccount number that groups one holder’s plots.
खेसरा / खसराKhesraThe plot number of a single parcel of land.
रकबाRakbaThe area (extent) of a plot.
चौहद्दीChauhaddiThe four boundaries: who adjoins the plot on each side.
खतियानKhatiyanThe record of rights from the survey.
जमाबंदीJamabandiThe register of landholdings, showing the holder and rent.
How a village’s land is organised
From village to plot
One mauza contains many khatas; each khata contains one or more khesras.
Mauza मौजाthe revenue village, the basic unit of land records
Khata खाताone holder’s account
Khesra खेसराa single plot
- Rakba (रकबा): how big the plot is
- Chauhaddi (चौहद्दी): what lies north, south, east and west of it
💡 The most common mix-up: a khata is an account that can hold several plots, while a khesra is one specific plot. Two relatives can share the same khata and still own different khesras.
The paper trail of one piece of land
How the main records connect
A simplified picture. Details can vary by district and by the survey in force.
Surveyसर्वेCS, RS or the current Special Survey measures and records the land
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KhatiyanखतियानThe record of rights: owners, plots and area
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JamabandiजमाबंदीThe register showing each holder’s holdings and rent
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Dakhil-Kharijदाखिल-खारिजMutation: the record is updated when ownership changes
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RasidरसीदThe land-revenue (rent) receipt, which supports your claim
Bigha, katha, dhur and decimal: convert them
Bihar land is still often talked about in bigha, katha and dhur, while records and buyers also use decimal (dismil), acre and square feet. Try the converter below.
Land unit converter
Based on the Patna-standard measure: 1 bigha = 20 katha, 1 katha = 20 dhur, 1 dhur = 20 dhurki, 1 decimal = 435.6 sq ft.
⚠️ Check the katha size in your own papers. The katha is not the same everywhere: it’s commonly given as 1,361.25 sq ft (Patna-standard), but local values reported across Bihar range from about 720 to over 3,000 sq ft, and some places measure by a local pole. If your deed or mauza record states a size, type it into the third box above and the converter will use it. For anything legal, rely on the figure written in your documents.
Quick reference (Patna-standard)
| Unit | Equals | In square feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bigha (बीघा) | 20 katha · 0.625 acre · 62.5 decimal | 27,225 |
| 1 katha (कट्ठा) | 20 dhur · 3.125 decimal | 1,361.25 |
| 1 dhur (धुर) | 20 dhurki · about 0.156 decimal | 68.06 |
| 1 decimal (डिसमिल) | 1/100 acre | 435.6 |
| 1 acre (एकड़) | 100 decimal · 1.6 bigha | 43,560 |
| 1 hectare (हेक्टेयर) | 2.47 acre | 107,639 |
The Special Survey: two forms people ask about
Bihar’s ongoing land survey asks landowners to submit declarations. Two forms come up most often:
Prapatra-2प्रपत्र-2 · स्व-घोषणाA self-declaration of what land you own or hold, with details such as mauza, khata, khesra, area and boundaries.
Prapatra-3(1)प्रपत्र-3(1) · वंशावलीThe vanshavali: a family tree of heirs, used to show how inherited land passes down.
⚠️ Form numbers, documents required and deadlines have been revised more than once, and some websites number the forms differently. Always confirm the current rules on the official portal of Bihar’s Department of Revenue and Land Reforms (dlrs.bihar.gov.in) or at your Anchal office.
The full glossary: search in Hindi or English
Type a word such as khesra, mutation or कट्ठा, or pick a category.
Records & Documents
अभिलेख व दस्तावेज़24खतियान
Khatiyan
Record of Rights — the original survey record listing owner, plots & area
जमाबंदी
Jamabandi
Register of landholdings (Register-II) showing tenant & rent
पंजी-2 / रैयती खाता
Panji-2 / Raiyati Khata
Register-2, the tenant's holding register
खाता
Khata
Account/holding number grouping one landholder's plots
खेसरा / खसरा
Khesra / Khasra
Plot (survey) number of a single parcel of land
रकबा / रकवा
Rakba
Area / extent of a plot of land
चौहद्दी
Chauhaddi
The four boundaries — adjoining owners on N/S/E/W
नक्शा / मानचित्र
Naksha
Cadastral map showing plot shapes & numbers
एल.पी.सी.
LPC
Land Possession Certificate (भू-धारण प्रमाण-पत्र)
रसीद / मालगुजारी रसीद
Rasid
Rent / land-revenue payment receipt
लगान
Lagan
Land rent or revenue payable to the state
दाखिल-खारिज
Dakhil-Kharij
Mutation — transferring title in the land record
केवाला / विक्रय-पत्र
Kewala / Vikray-patra
Registered sale deed
दानपत्र
Danpatra
Gift deed
वसीयत
Wasiyat
Will (testament)
बँटवारा / बटवारा
Batwara
Partition of joint land among co-sharers
बँटवारा विलेख
Batwara vilekh
Registered partition deed
वंशावली
Vanshavali
Genealogy / family tree of heirs
कुर्सीनामा
Kursinama
Pedigree / lineage chart
पंचनामा
Panchnama
Document witnessed & attested by village elders (panches)
समझौता
Samjhauta
Mutual agreement / amicable settlement
परिमार्जन
Parimarjan
Correction of a digitised land record online
इश्तहार / सनहा
Istahar
Public notice or proclamation
मूल रैयत
Mool raiyat
Original recorded tenant from whom title descends
People & Roles
पक्ष व पदाधिकारी18रैयत
Raiyat
Tenant / landholder with occupancy (cultivation) rights
ज़मींदार
Zamindar
Landlord under the old zamindari system (abolished after independence)
मालिक
Malik
Owner of the land
फरीक
Fareek
A party to a deed, partition or dispute
क्रेता
Kreta
Buyer / purchaser
विक्रेता
Vikreta
Seller / vendor
आवेदक
Aavedak
Applicant (e.g. for mutation)
हिस्सेदार
Hissedar
Co-sharer / joint holder of undivided land
वारिस / उत्तराधिकारी
Waris / Uttaradhikari
Heir / legal successor
गवाह
Gawah
Witness
अमीन
Amin
Survey official who measures & maps land
कानूनगो
Kanungo
Supervisor of revenue records & survey
हल्का कर्मचारी
Halka Karmachari
Circle revenue clerk (patwari equivalent)
अंचल अधिकारी (सी.ओ.)
Anchal Adhikari / CO
Circle Officer — passes mutation orders
डी.सी.एल.आर.
DCLR
Dy. Collector Land Reforms — hears appeals & pre-emption
समाहर्ता / कलेक्टर
Samaharta / Collector
District Collector
निबंधक
Nibandhak
Sub-Registrar who registers deeds
मुखिया / सरपंच / वार्ड सदस्य
Mukhiya / Sarpanch / Ward member
Elected village-council heads (attest vanshavali)
Administrative Units
प्रशासनिक इकाई12मौजा / मौज़ा
Mauza
Revenue village — the basic land-record unit
थाना नंबर
Thana number
Police-station circle number used to identify a mauza
हल्का
Halka
Revenue circle — a group of mauzas under one karmachari
अंचल
Anchal
Circle / block (revenue administration unit)
अनुमंडल
Anumandal
Sub-division of a district
जिला
Zila
District
परगना
Pargana
Old revenue sub-division (historical)
तौजी
Touzi
Revenue estate number
चक
Chak
A block or cluster of plots within a mauza
टोला
Tola
Hamlet — a settlement cluster within a village
सिवाना
Siwana
Village boundary line between two mauzas
पंचायत
Panchayat
Village council administrative unit
Measurement Units
माप इकाई10डिसमिल / डेसिमल
Decimal (Dismil)
1/100 of an acre (≈ 435.6 sq ft) — common in Bihar records
एकड़
Acre
100 decimals (43,560 sq ft ≈ 0.405 hectare)
बीघा
Bigha
Standard Bihar bigha = 20 katha ≈ 0.625 acre (varies by district)
कट्ठा
Katha
Commonly 1,361.25 sq ft (about 3.125 decimals) in Patna-standard use, but it varies widely by district. Check your own deed
धुर
Dhur
1/20 of a katha
धुरकी
Dhurki
1/20 of a dhur (smallest traditional unit)
हेक्टेयर
Hectare
10,000 sq m ≈ 2.47 acres
वर्ग फुट
Varg foot
Square foot
वर्ग मीटर
Varg meter
Square metre
जरीब / लट्ठा
Jarib
Surveyor's measuring chain
Land Types & Features
भूमि के प्रकार व विशेषताएँ20रैयती भूमि
Raiyati bhoomi
Tenant-held (privately occupied) land
गैरमजरूआ आम
Gairmazarua Aam
Common land for public use (roads, ponds, paths)
गैरमजरूआ मालिक
Gairmazarua Malik
Government / state-owned land
बकाश्त
Bakasht
Land self-cultivated by the holder
परती
Parti
Fallow / currently uncultivated land
बंजर
Banjar
Barren, uncultivable land
आबादी
Aabadi
Inhabited / settlement land
घरारी / मकान
Gharari
Homestead — land under a dwelling
धनहर / खेत
Dhanhar / Khet
Paddy / cultivated agricultural field
टाँड़
Tand
Upland / high ground (often dry, single-crop)
दियारा
Diyara
Riverine floodplain land
पईन / पइन
Pain
Irrigation channel / small canal
अहर / अहरा
Ahar
Traditional water-storage tank (Magadh irrigation)
पोखर / तालाब
Pokhar
Pond
बगीचा / बगिया
Bagicha
Orchard / grove
खलिहान
Khalihan
Threshing floor
सोत
Sot
Natural stream / drainage line
जंगल
Jangal
Woodland / scrub
गोचर
Gochar
Grazing / pasture land
भीठ
Bhith
Raised ground / mound
Survey & Legal Process
सर्वेक्षण व विधिक प्रक्रिया19कैडस्ट्रल सर्वे (सी.एस.)
CS — Cadastral Survey
The original (oldest) field survey & record
रिविजनल सर्वे (आर.एस.)
RS — Revisional Survey
The later re-survey updating the CS record
विशेष सर्वेक्षण (एस.एस.)
SS — Special Survey
Bihar's current (2020s) special survey — renumbers plots
किस्तवार
Kistwar
Survey stage — mapping & demarcating each plot
खानापुरी
Khanapuri
Survey stage — filling in the draft record of rights
प्रपत्र-2
Prapatra-2
Self-declaration form of one's holdings (special survey)
प्रपत्र-3(1)
Prapatra-3(1)
Vanshavali (genealogy) form for the survey
प्रारूप प्रकाशन
Prarup prakashan
Draft publication of the new record for objections
अंतिम प्रकाशन
Antim prakashan
Final publication of the settled record
बंदोबस्त
Bandobast
Settlement — fixing revenue & finalising records
दखल-कब्जा
Dakhal-kabja
Actual possession / occupation of land
शुफा / अग्रक्रयाधिकार
Shufa / Pre-emption
Co-sharer's right to buy back land sold to an outsider (pre-emption)
आपत्ति
Aapatti
Formal objection in a case or survey
बाद / मुकदमा
Vaad / Mukadma
Lawsuit / case
निषेधाज्ञा
Nishedhagya
Injunction — court order restraining an act
अपील
Appeal
Appeal to a higher revenue authority
राजस्व न्यायालय
Rajaswa Nyayalaya
Revenue court (CO / DCLR / Collector)
मुआवजा
Muawza
Compensation (e.g. for acquired land)
भू-अर्जन / अधिग्रहण
Bhu-arjan
Land acquisition by the government
कोई मिलान नहीं · no match
Mix-ups that cause real trouble
- Khata vs khesra. Quoting the khata number when a plot (khesra) number is needed is a common reason for delays.
- Assuming a katha is the same everywhere. Always confirm the size from your documents before comparing or pricing land.
- Registry vs record. Registering a deed and getting the land record updated (dakhil-kharij) are separate steps. After a purchase or inheritance, check that the record itself shows the new name.
- Mismatched details. Errors in area, boundaries or names can sometimes be corrected through the online correction process (parimarjan) or at the Anchal office.
- Missing rent receipts. Keep your land-revenue receipts (rasid): they support your claim of possession over time.
🔖 Please note: these are plain-language meanings to help you read documents. They are not legal advice. Terms, units and procedures can differ by district and change over time. For any purchase, sale, partition or dispute, confirm with your Anchal office, the official Bihar land-records portal or a qualified lawyer.
Quick answers
What is the difference between khata and khesra? · खाता और खेसरा में क्या अंतर है?
A khata (खाता) is an account number that groups the plots held by one holder. A khesra (खेसरा/खसरा) is the number of one particular plot. One khata can contain several khesras.
What is dakhil-kharij? · दाखिल-खारिज क्या है?
Dakhil-kharij is mutation: updating the land record so that it shows the new owner after a sale, gift, inheritance or partition. It is how the record catches up with a change in ownership.
What is the difference between khatiyan and jamabandi?
The khatiyan is the record of rights prepared during a survey, listing owners, plots and area. The jamabandi is the register that lists each landholder’s holdings and the rent payable.
How many decimals are in one katha?
On the Patna-standard measure of 1,361.25 sq ft, one katha is about 3.125 decimals. But the katha varies by district, so check the figure in your own documents.
What is a vanshavali and when is it needed? · वंशावली क्या है?
A vanshavali is a family tree of heirs. In Bihar’s Special Survey it is submitted using Prapatra-3(1) to show how inherited land passes down. Confirm the current requirements on the official portal.
Where can I check my land record online?
Bihar provides land-record services online through its official land-records portal (Bihar Bhumi). Look for jamabandi, khatiyan and map details by district, anchal and mauza, and use only the official government website.