How to Read Land Area in a Punjab Jamabandi Record
Key Facts & Revenue Parameters
- Jamabandi Column for Area
- Column 5 (Rakba)
- Urban Format
- Kanal - Marla - Sarsahi
- Revenue Record Format
- Bigha - Biswa - Biswansi
- Killa / Acre Rect Notation
- Mustatils and Khasra Numbers (e.g. Mustatil 14, Khasra 8)
- Standard Karam Check
- Specified in settlement header
- Official Portal
- jamabandi.punjab.gov.in
Conversion Formula & Worked Example
Worked Example: Jamabandi entry '2-4-0.69' in Mohali = (2 × 5,445) + (4 × 272.25) + (0.69 × 30.25) = 10,890 + 1,089 + 20.87 = 12,000 sq ft.
Common Conversion Values: Bigha to Square Foot
| Bigha | Square Foot | Square Feet Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bigha | 21,780 Square Feet | 21,780 sq ft |
| 2 Bigha | 43,560 Square Feet | 43,560 sq ft |
| 3 Bigha | 65,340 Square Feet | 65,340 sq ft |
| 4 Bigha | 87,120 Square Feet | 87,120 sq ft |
| 5 Bigha | 1,08,900 Square Feet | 1,08,900 sq ft |
| 6 Bigha | 1,30,680 Square Feet | 1,30,680 sq ft |
| 7 Bigha | 1,52,460 Square Feet | 1,52,460 sq ft |
| 8 Bigha | 1,74,240 Square Feet | 1,74,240 sq ft |
| 9 Bigha | 1,96,020 Square Feet | 1,96,020 sq ft |
| 10 Bigha | 2,17,800 Square Feet | 2,17,800 sq ft |
| 15 Bigha | 3,26,700 Square Feet | 3,26,700 sq ft |
| 20 Bigha | 4,35,600 Square Feet | 4,35,600 sq ft |
| 25 Bigha | 5,44,500 Square Feet | 5,44,500 sq ft |
| 50 Bigha | 10,89,000 Square Feet | 10,89,000 sq ft |
| 100 Bigha | 21,78,000 Square Feet | 21,78,000 sq ft |
| 500 Bigha | 1,08,90,000 Square Feet | 1,08,90,000 sq ft |
| 1000 Bigha | 2,17,80,000 Square Feet | 2,17,80,000 sq ft |
Regional Variations Across Punjab Revenue Systems
| System & Region | Karam | 1 Marla | 1 Kanal | 1 Bigha | Kanals / Acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mohali / Standard Punjab Mohali / Tricity and all urban Punjab (System A) | 66 in | 272.25 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft | 21,780 sq ft | 8.00 kanal |
Rajpura / Patiala Katcha Bigha Rajpura, Banur, Dera Bassi, Lalru, Patiala, Nabha, Malerkotla, Fazilka (System B) | 57.157 in | 226.88 sq ft | 4,538 sq ft | 9,075 sq ft | 9.60 kanal |
Doaba Region Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Anandpur Sahib (System C) | 57.5 in | 206.64 sq ft | 4,133 sq ft | 16,531 sq ft | 10.54 kanal |
Majha Region Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Faridkot (System D) | 60 in | 225.00 sq ft | 4,500 sq ft | 10,000 sq ft | 9.68 kanal |
Kapurthala State Kapurthala (System E) | 54 in | 182.25 sq ft | 3,645 sq ft | 7,290 sq ft | 11.95 kanal |
Ludhiana Pakka Bigha Ludhiana (System F) | 99 in | 272.25 sq ft | 5,445 sq ft | 27,225 sq ft | 8.00 kanal |
Understanding the Structure of a Jamabandi Record
A jamabandi is the official record of rights (RoR) maintained by the revenue department. It contains 12 columns detailing Khewat number, Khatoni number, Owner name (Malik), Cultivator (Kashtkar), Land Area (Rakba - Column 5), Soil classification, and Irrigation details.
Decoding Area Notation: Step-by-Step Worked Examples
Example 1 (Mohali Standard): Recorded area '3-10-4' = 3 kanal (16,335 sq ft) + 10 marla (2,722.5 sq ft) + 4 sarsahi (121 sq ft) = 19,178.5 sq ft. Example 2 (Rajpura Bigha): Recorded area '5-10-0' = 5 bigha (45,375 sq ft) + 10 biswa (4,537.5 sq ft) = 49,912.5 sq ft (1.145 acres).
Verifying Fractional Ownership Shares
When buying undivided agricultural land, the deed states a fraction (e.g. 15/160 share in Khewat 42). Multiply total area by the fraction to compute exact purchased square footage.
Statutory Citations & Source Documentation
- Punjab Land Records Online Portal(Department of Revenue, Punjab)
- Punjab Land Records Manual (3rd Edition, 2004)(Department of Revenue, Punjab)
Verified Statistic: In Punjab jamabandi records, Mustatil grid blocks contain up to 25 khasra numbers (1 killa each), forming a total grid of 1 murabba (1,089,000 sq ft).
Provenance: Conversion factors sourced from the Punjab Land Records Manual, 3rd edition, 2004. Last verified 26 July 2026.
"Revenue practice varies by tehsil and by whether the area was consolidated. Before any registry, confirm the conversion against the jamabandi and the local patwari record."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which column in a jamabandi shows land area?
Column 5 of a Punjab jamabandi shows the total area (Rakba) and ownership share.
What does '2-4-0' mean in a jamabandi entry?
It denotes 2 kanal, 4 marla, and 0 sarsahi (11,979 sq ft in standard Punjab).
What does '4-12-0' mean in a Bigha-Biswa jamabandi?
It denotes 4 bigha, 12 biswa, and 0 biswansi.
How do I calculate my exact share from a joint jamabandi khata?
Multiply the total parcel area by your fractional share (e.g., 1/4th share of 8 kanal = 2 kanal).
Where can I view my jamabandi online in Punjab?
Access the official portal at jamabandi.punjab.gov.in using your district, tehsil, village, and khewat number.
What is a Mustatil and Khasra number?
A Mustatil is a large rectangular grid block (usually 25 acres), and a Khasra number is an individual 1-acre/killa plot within that block.