1. What Is a Khasra Number?
A Khasra Number is a unique identification number assigned to a specific piece of land in rural and agricultural areas during a government land survey.
Think of it as the plot number of village land. Just like a flat in a city has a door number, every agricultural plot in a village has a Khasra Number.
The word Khasra comes from Persian and has been part of India’s land record system since the Mughal era. It is widely used across North and Central India — in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab.
2. Why Does a Khasra Number Exist?
During a land survey (called Bandobast), the government’s revenue officers measure every piece of land in a village. Each individual plot gets a unique serial number — that number is the Khasra Number.
It helps the government keep track of who owns which piece of land, how large it is, what crop is being grown on it, and how much revenue is owed.
Without Khasra Numbers, it would be impossible to manage millions of small land parcels across thousands of Indian villages.
3. What Does a Khasra Number Tell You?
When you look up a Khasra Number in the land records (called Khatauni or Jamabandi), you get:
- Owner’s name — who holds the legal title
- Area of the plot — in Bigha, Biswa, Hectare, or Acre, depending on the state
- Land type — irrigated, unirrigated, fallow, or cultivable
- Cultivation details — whether it is self-cultivated or leased to someone else
- Possession details — who is actually occupying the land
- Any liabilities — mortgages, disputes, or government acquisition noted
This makes the Khasra Number one of the most information-rich identifiers in Indian land records.
4. Khasra Number vs Survey Number vs Plot Number
These three terms refer to the same concept — just used in different parts of India.
| Term | Where It Is Used |
| Khasra Number | UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand |
| Survey Number (Sarvekshan Kramank) | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh |
| Plot Number | Urban areas across all states |
| Dag Number | West Bengal and Assam |
| Khesra Number | Bihar (local pronunciation of Khasra) |
All of these serve the same purpose — uniquely identifying a parcel of land in government records. The difference is only regional.
5. Khasra Number vs Khata Number vs Khatauni Number
This is where most people get confused. All three are part of the same land record system — but they serve different purposes.
Khasra Number identifies a specific plot of land. One village can have hundreds of Khasra Numbers — one for each field.
Khata Number (also called Khewat Number) is assigned to a landowner or a group of co-owners. It groups together all the plots owned by one person or family under a single account number. If a family owns five plots in a village, each plot has its own Khasra Number — but all five fall under the same Khata Number.
Khatauni Number is assigned to the cultivator — the person who is actually farming the land. The owner and the cultivator may be different people. The Khatauni records both.
| Term | What It Identifies | Simple Analogy |
| Khasra Number | The individual plot | Like a flat number |
| Khata Number | The owner’s total holdings | Like an owner’s account number |
| Khatauni Number | The cultivator’s details | Like a tenant’s record |
6. How Khasra Numbers Are Assigned
Khasra Numbers are assigned by the Lekhpal (revenue accountant) or Patwari during a land survey. The process works like this:
First, the village land is surveyed, and a Shajra (village map) is prepared. Every individual plot on the map is marked with a boundary.
Each plot is then given a sequential number — that is, the Khasra Number. The numbers run serially across the village — plot 1, plot 2, plot 3, and so on.
Once assigned, the Patwari maintains and updates the records — every time land is sold, gifted, inherited, or divided.
7. What Happens When Land Is Divided?
When a large piece of land is subdivided — either due to a sale, inheritance, or partition — the original Khasra Number gets split into sub-numbers.
For example, if Khasra 45 is divided into two parts, the resulting plots may be recorded as Khasra 45/1 and Khasra 45/2.
This sub-numbering system creates a traceable chain — you can always tell that both plots originally came from a single parent plot. It is important in inheritance disputes and partition cases.
8. Khasra Number in Property Transactions
Whenever agricultural or rural land is bought, sold, gifted, or mortgaged, the Khasra Number must appear in every legal document — the sale deed, the gift deed, the mortgage deed, and the mutation application.
The Sub-Registrar’s office verifies that the Khasra Number mentioned in the sale deed matches the actual plot in the revenue records before registering the document.
Banks and housing finance companies also verify the Khasra Number against the Khatauni when processing loans against agricultural land. A mismatch between the Khasra Number in the deed and the one in revenue records is a common reason for loan rejection.
9. How to Check a Khasra Number Online
Most states have digitised their land records and made them publicly accessible. Here is where to check:
| State | Portal | What to Search |
| Uttar Pradesh | upbhulekh.gov.in | Khatauni by Khasra or owner name |
| Bihar | biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in | Khata and Khasra details |
| Rajasthan | apnakhata.raj.nic.in | Jamabandi by Khasra number |
| Madhya Pradesh | mpbhulekh.gov.in | Khasra details by village |
| Haryana | jamabandi.nic.in | Jamabandi and Khasra records |
| Punjab | jamabandi.punjab.gov.in | Land records by Khasra |
| Uttarakhand | bhulekh.uk.gov.in | Khatauni by Khasra number |
To search, you typically need the state, district, tehsil, village name, and either the Khasra Number or the owner’s name.
10. Khasra Number and Mutation
When land changes hands through sale or inheritance, the mutation process (called Dakhil Kharij) updates the Khasra record to reflect the new owner.
Until mutation is done, the previous owner’s name stays in the Khasra record — even after the sale deed is registered.
This is why mutation must always follow registration immediately. A registered sale deed without mutation means the government still sees the old owner’s name in the land record — creating a gap where disputes can arise.
11. Khasra Number in Urban Land
In cities and towns, land is typically identified by Plot Number, Survey Number, or House Number — not Khasra Number.
However, peri-urban land on the outskirts of cities often still carries a Khasra Number from its earlier agricultural classification. As cities expand, many such plots get converted to residential or commercial use — but the original Khasra Number remains in the base title chain.
This is why sale deeds for plotted layouts near city limits often mention both the new plot number and the old Khasra Number — to maintain a clean title chain that connects urban plot records to the original agricultural land records.
12. Tips for Buyers and Brokers
- Always verify the Khasra Number before buying rural or agricultural land — Check the Khasra Number on the state land records portal and match it with what is mentioned in the seller’s documents. Any mismatch needs explanation.
- Cross-check the area in the Khasra record with what the seller claims — The area recorded in the Khasra should match the area mentioned in the sale deed. Discrepancies indicate either record errors or deliberate misrepresentation.
- Check for sub-divisions — If the plot was originally part of a larger Khasra that was subdivided, verify the sub-numbering is correctly reflected in both the revenue record and the sale deed.
- Confirm mutation after every purchase — The Khasra record must show your name after purchase. Apply for Dakhil Kharij immediately after registration and track until your name appears in the updated Khatauni.
- Use the Khasra Number to trace the complete ownership history — State land record portals allow you to view the history of a Khasra Number. A clean, unbroken history from the last Bandobast to today is the mark of a dispute-free title.
13. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not checking the Khasra Number on the government portal before buying
Many buyers trust only the documents the seller provides. Always independently verify the Khasra details on the state revenue portal — ownership, area, and any liabilities recorded.
Confusing Khasra Number with Khata Number
Khasra identifies the plot. Khata identifies the owner’s account. Both are needed for a complete picture of the land. Checking only one and missing the other is a common due diligence gap.
Ignoring sub-division history
A Khasra Number like 45/1 tells you this is a subdivided plot. Always trace the original parent Khasra (Khasra 45 in this case) to verify that the subdivision was done legally and all co-owners consented.
Not applying for mutation after registration
Registration transfers legal title. Mutation updates the Khasra record. Without mutation, the old owner’s name stays in the record — and you remain invisible in the government’s land database.
Buying land where the Khasra record shows a dispute or attachment
State portals often flag plots with active court disputes or government acquisition notices. Never buy a plot where the Khasra record shows any annotation, dispute, or court order without getting it resolved first.
14. A Simple Example
Vijay wants to buy 1 acre of agricultural land near Patna. The seller shows him a sale deed from 2010 and says it is a clean, unencumbered plot.
Vijay’s lawyer checks Khasra Number 312 on the biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in portal. The portal shows the land is recorded in the name of three brothers, not just the one seller standing in front of Vijay.
The seller is one of the three co-owners. Without the other two brothers signing the sale deed, the transaction is incomplete and legally invalid.
Had Vijay simply trusted the seller’s documents without checking the Khasra record, he would have bought a fraction of the land — or worse, ended up in a lengthy court battle with the other co-owners.
One quick check of the Khasra Number saved him from a serious mistake.
15. FAQs
What is a Khasra Number?
A Khasra Number is a unique identification number assigned to a specific piece of land during a government survey. It is used in rural and agricultural areas of India — primarily in North and Central Indian states — to identify, record, and track individual land parcels in government revenue records.
Is Khasra Number the same as Survey Number?
Yes. Both serve the same purpose — uniquely identifying a land parcel. Khasra Number is used in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and other North Indian states. Survey Number is used in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
What is the difference between Khasra and Khata Number?
Khasra Number identifies a specific plot of land. Khata Number (also called Khewat Number) identifies all the plots owned by a particular person or family in a village. One Khata Number can cover multiple Khasra Numbers under the same owner.
How do I check my Khasra Number online?
Visit your state’s land records portal — for example, upbhulekh.gov.in for UP or biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in for Bihar. Enter your district, tehsil, and village name, and search by Khasra Number or owner name to view the record.
What happens to the Khasra Number after a sale?
The Khasra Number stays the same — it is tied to the plot, not the owner. What changes is the owner’s name in the Khasra record, after mutation (Dakhil Kharij) is completed at the Tehsil.
Why is the Khasra Number important when buying land?
It is the primary identifier of the plot in all government records. The sale deed, mutation application, bank loan documents, and court proceedings all reference the Khasra Number. Without verifying it, you cannot confirm who the legal owner is, what the exact area is, or whether any disputes or liabilities exist.
In simple words, the Khasra Number is the land’s identity card. Every piece of rural or agricultural land in India has one. Before you buy any plot, check its Khasra Number on the state land records portal. Verify the owner, the area, and any liabilities. Then register, mutate, and confirm your name in the updated record. These steps together give you ownership that is clean, verified, and government-recognised.