Punjab Land Measurement Chart: The Master Revenue Reference
Key Facts & Revenue Parameters
- System A (Mohali / Standard)
- 66 in karam | 272.25 sq ft marla | 21,780 sq ft bigha
- System B (Rajpura / Patiala)
- 57.157 in karam | 226.88 sq ft marla | 9,075 sq ft katcha bigha
- System C (Doaba / Jalandhar)
- 57.5 in karam | 206.64 sq ft marla | 4,132.81 sq ft kanal
- System D (Majha / Amritsar)
- 60 in karam | 225 sq ft marla | 10,000 sq ft bigha
- System E (Kapurthala)
- 54 in karam | 182.25 sq ft marla | 3,645 sq ft kanal
- System F (Ludhiana)
- 99 in gatha | 27,225 sq ft pakka bigha | 1.6 bigha/acre
Conversion Formula & Worked Example
Worked Example: 75 bigha in Rajpura (System B) = 75 × 9,075 = 680,625 sq ft (15.625 acres). 75 bigha in Mohali (System A) = 75 × 21,780 = 1,633,500 sq ft (37.5 acres).
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 |
Historical Genesis of Punjab Revenue Measurements
Land administration in Punjab rests on settlement surveys conducted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The British administration standardized the 66-inch karam (5.5 feet) for consolidated districts, creating a uniform hierarchy: 1 karam = 5.5 ft, 1 sarsahi = 30.25 sq ft, 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft, 1 kanal = 5,445 sq ft, 1 bigha = 21,780 sq ft, 1 killa = 43,560 sq ft. However, erstwhile princely states retained their own measurement chains, resulting in six distinct regional systems that remain active in revenue records today.
Detailed Comparative Analysis of Systems A through F
System A (Mohali/Urban Punjab) uses 66-inch karam where 1 bigha = 21,780 sq ft. System B (Patiala, Rajpura, Banur, Dera Bassi) uses 57.157-inch karam where 1 katcha bigha = 9,075 sq ft (4.8 bigha/acre). System C (Doaba - Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur) uses 57.5-inch karam where 1 marla = 206.64 sq ft and 1 acre = 10.54 kanal. System D (Majha - Amritsar, Gurdaspur) uses 60-inch karam where 1 marla = 225 sq ft and 1 bigha = 10,000 sq ft. System E (Kapurthala) uses 54-inch karam where 1 marla = 182.25 sq ft and 1 acre = 11.95 kanal. System F (Ludhiana) uses 99-inch gatha where 1 pakka bigha = 27,225 sq ft (1.6 bigha/acre).
Practical Guidance for Real Estate Buyers and Investors
When transacting land in Punjab, price quotes per bigha or kanal cannot be compared across district lines without applying system conversions. A seller quoting INR 50 Lakh per bigha in Rajpura is asking INR 551 per sq ft (INR 2.4 Cr/acre), whereas INR 50 Lakh per bigha in Mohali is asking INR 229 per sq ft (INR 1.0 Cr/acre). Understanding these nuances protects buyers from major financial miscalculations.
Statutory Citations & Source Documentation
- Punjab Land Records Manual (3rd Edition, 2004, pp. 183-185)(Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Government of Punjab)
- Punjab Weight and Measurement Act 1976(Government of Punjab Legislative Department)
Verified Statistic: Across Punjab's six revenue systems, 1 acre ranges from 8 kanal in Mohali to 10.54 kanal in Doaba and 11.95 kanal in Kapurthala.
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 are the six land measurement systems of Punjab?
The six systems are: System A (Standard 66-inch karam), System B (Patiala/Rajpura 57.157-inch karam), System C (Doaba 57.5-inch karam), System D (Majha 60-inch karam), System E (Kapurthala 54-inch karam), and System F (Ludhiana 99-inch gatha).
Why does Punjab have six different measurement systems?
The variation stems from pre-independence land settlements conducted independently by the British administration and princely state rulers (Patiala, Nabha, Kapurthala, Jind).
Which system applies to Mohali and Tricity?
Mohali, SAS Nagar, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, Kharar, Kurali, New Chandigarh, and Mullanpur operate on System A (Standard 66-inch karam).
How many marlas make a kanal across all systems?
In all six Punjab systems, exactly 20 marlas make 1 kanal. However, the square footage of the marla varies by system.
What is a sarsahi or square karam?
A sarsahi (or square karam) is the area of a square measuring 1 karam on each side. 9 sarsahi make 1 marla in System A.
How do I determine which system applies to my agricultural land?
Refer to the revenue settlement notes in the jamabandi record or consult the local halqa patwari. The settlement year and karam length are explicitly recorded.