Land Records
What is a Khasra Number?
The plot number. The account. The village map. Three things that fit together, and which nobody explains to you as a set.
The short answer
A khasra number identifies a specific plot of land in the revenue records of North Indian states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana.
It works alongside two other things: the khatauni (the account of everything a person holds in that village) and the shajra (the village map showing where each khasra actually is).
What a khasra number is
A unique identifier for a plot of land within a village. Every parcel has one.
The khasra register records, against each number: the plot's area, its classification, who holds it, who cultivates it, and what was grown.
It is the North Indian equivalent of Maharashtra's survey number or gat number.
Khasra, Khatauni, Shajra — the three together
| Record | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Khasra | The plot. Its number, area, classification, and who holds it. Plot-centric. |
| Khatauni | The person. The account of ALL land held by one person in that village — which may be several khasra numbers. Owner-centric. |
| Shajra | The map. A village map showing where each khasra number physically sits, and its boundaries. |
| Jamabandi | In Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar — the consolidated record of rights, pulling the above together. Periodically revised. |
You need all three. The khasra tells you the plot exists. The khatauni tells you what else the seller holds. The shajra tells you WHERE the plot actually is — which is not always where the seller says it is.
The khasra number tells you a plot exists. It does not tell you where it is.
The shajra — the village map — does. And it is worth looking at, because 'the plot next to the main road' and 'the plot the khasra number actually refers to' are not always the same plot.
Land sold by pointing at a field, and documented by a number, is a recurring category of Indian dispute. Look at the map.
How to check
| State | Portal |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | UP Bhulekh |
| Madhya Pradesh | MP Bhulekh |
| Rajasthan | Apna Khata |
| Bihar | Bihar Bhumi |
| Haryana | Jamabandi Haryana |
| Delhi (rural) | Revenue department records |
Search for the state's revenue department by name. Do not follow a link a seller sends you — fake land-record sites exist and they are convincing.
- Select the district, tehsil and village.
- Search by khasra number, or by the holder's name.
- Check the name matches the seller, exactly.
- Check the area matches what is being sold.
- Read the entries for loans, charges and transfers.
- Look at the shajra to confirm where the plot actually is.
The problems to look for
- The plot has been subdivided and the khasra number now covers less land than the seller says.
- Multiple names on the khatauni — co-owners the seller hasn't mentioned.
- The land is agricultural and has not been converted. You cannot lawfully build on it.
- A charge or loan noted against the plot.
- The shajra shows the plot somewhere other than where you were shown.
- Ceiling land, or land subject to consolidation proceedings — both create complications.
Most khasra land in North India is agricultural.
Buying it for a house, without converting the land use, is one of the most expensive mistakes available. The transfer may be void. No building approval will follow. And the money is gone.
Check the classification on the khasra. If it is agricultural, conversion comes first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a khasra number?
A unique number identifying a specific plot of land in the revenue records of North Indian states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana. It is the North Indian equivalent of Maharashtra's survey or gat number.
What is the difference between khasra and khatauni?
The khasra is plot-centric — it identifies a specific piece of land and who holds it. The khatauni is owner-centric — it is the account of ALL land a person holds in that village, which may cover several khasra numbers. You want both.
What is a shajra?
The village map, showing where each khasra number physically sits and its boundaries. It is the record almost nobody looks at, and it matters: 'the plot next to the main road' and 'the plot the khasra number actually refers to' are not always the same plot.
How do I check a khasra number online?
Through the state's land records portal — UP Bhulekh, MP Bhulekh, Apna Khata in Rajasthan, Bihar Bhumi. Select the district, tehsil and village, then search by khasra number or the holder's name. Search for the state's revenue department by name; never follow a link a seller sends you.
Can I build a house on khasra land?
Not if it is classified as agricultural — and most khasra land in North India is. The land use must be converted to non-agricultural first. Buying agricultural land for a house without conversion is one of the most expensive mistakes available: the transfer may be void, and no building approval will follow.