Karam Standards of Punjab: District-by-District Technical Analysis
Key Facts & Revenue Parameters
- Standard Karam
- 66 inches (5.5 feet) | 30.25 sq ft sarsahi
- Patiala / Rajpura Karam
- 57.157 inches (4.763 feet) | 22.6875 sq ft sarsahi
- Doaba Karam
- 57.5 inches (4.791 feet) | 22.96 sq ft sarsahi
- Majha Karam
- 60 inches (5.0 feet) | 25 sq ft sarsahi
- Kapurthala Karam
- 54 inches (4.5 feet) | 20.25 sq ft sarsahi
- Ludhiana Gatha
- 99 inches (8.25 feet) | 68.0625 sq ft sq gatha
Conversion Formula & Worked Example
Worked Example: 66-inch karam: (66 ÷ 12)² = (5.5)² = 30.25 sq ft per sarsahi. 9 sarsahi = 272.25 sq ft per marla.
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 |
The Physics and Geometry of the Karam Measurement System
All land area calculations in Punjab derive from the linear karam. Because area equals length squared, small changes in linear karam length produce large differences in square footage. 1 sarsahi = (karam in feet)². 1 marla = 9 sarsahi. 1 kanal = 20 marla.
Mathematical Derivation of All Five Karam Standards
1. 66-inch (5.5 ft): 5.5² = 30.25 sq ft sarsahi → 272.25 sq ft marla. 2. 60-inch (5.0 ft): 5.0² = 25.0 sq ft sarsahi → 225.0 sq ft marla. 3. 57.5-inch (4.79167 ft): 4.79167² = 22.96 sq ft sarsahi → 206.64 sq ft marla. 4. 57.157-inch (4.76308 ft): 4.76308² = 22.6875 sq ft sarsahi → 226.875 sq ft marla. 5. 54-inch (4.5 ft): 4.5² = 20.25 sq ft sarsahi → 182.25 sq ft marla.
Revenue Audit Significance
When auditing old jamabandi deeds, checking the recorded karam standard guarantees that physical boundaries match legal title.
Statutory Citations & Source Documentation
- Punjab Land Records Manual (3rd Edition, 2004, Chapter 7)(Department of Revenue, Punjab)
Verified Statistic: Because area scales quadratically with karam length, a 66-inch karam yields a marla (272.25 sq ft) that is 49 percent larger than a 54-inch karam marla (182.25 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
What is a karam in land measurement?
A karam is a wooden measuring stick or stride unit used by revenue officials (patwaris) to survey land boundaries.
How long is a standard karam in feet?
A standard karam is 66 inches or exactly 5.5 feet long.
How does karam length determine marla size?
1 sarsahi = 1 square karam. 9 sarsahi = 1 marla. For a 66-inch karam (5.5 ft), 5.5 × 5.5 = 30.25 sq ft per sarsahi, × 9 = 272.25 sq ft per marla.
What is a gatha?
A gatha (used in Ludhiana and Jind) is a 99-inch measuring pole (8.25 feet). 1 square gatha = 68.0625 sq ft (1 biswansi).
Why were different karam lengths introduced historically?
Different ruler dynasties (Patiala, Kapurthala, Jind, British Raj) instituted distinct survey rods during 19th-century land settlements.
Can a karam length be changed today?
No, revenue survey units are fixed by law under the Punjab Land Records Manual 2004.