Khata and Khesra Number Meaning vs Plot Number (Bihar 2026)

What is a khata number?

The Revenue Department's glossary defines the khata as the number recorded in a person's name. It was given when the survey prepared the khatiyan. It shows all of that person's land. The department compares it to a bank account number.

• One khata can hold several khesras: different fields of one raiyat under a single account.
• Who the land stands in the name of today is shown by the jamabandi, not the khata (explained below).

What is a khesra number?

The glossary defines khesra as the serial number of each plot in the survey, unique within a revenue village. On Bhu-Naksha, the number written inside each parcel of the village map is its khesra.

The key point: a khesra number is unique only inside its own mauza. "Khesra 100" exists in hundreds of villages across Patna district. Always quote it with the circle and mauza (with its thana number).

Is a plot number the same as a khesra number?

In Patna, "plot number" is used in two different senses, and that is where buyers get confused:

On the edges of Patna (Danapur, Phulwari, Bihta, Naubatpur, Punpun, Sampatchak circles), one large khesra is often cut into many small plots. Your "Plot 14" is then part of a khesra. Match these three things on paper:

1. Which khesra your plot lies in (sometimes it spans two).
2. How much area of that khesra is being sold to you.
3. The boundaries (chauhaddi) of your portion on all four sides.

The sale deed (kewala) can mention the colony plot number. But it must carry the mauza, thana number, khata, khesra, area and chauhaddi, because mutation is done on those.

Jamabandi number, thana number, bhag-prishth: the other numbers

Easy to remember: khata and khesra are survey numbers (where the land is, which account). The jamabandi is the present-day number (whose name the land runs in, who pays rent). More on the register in checking jamabandi, khatiyan and LPC online.

One khesra, many owners: the most common mismatch in Patna

At survey time a khesra stood in one raiyat's name. Since then, partitions and sales have often split it among many people. So the seller's jamabandi may hold only part of the khesra (a share of its area).

Step-by-step guides: mutation status, Bhu-Naksha and the LPM report, khatiyan download.

How to find the khata and khesra number of land in Patna

• From the seller's papers: the old sale deed, rent receipt, LPC or a khatiyan copy. The rent receipt carries the circle and the jamabandi number or bhag-prishth.
• By name, online: on biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in, open "view jamabandi register". Choose district Patna, circle, halka and mauza, and search by the raiyat's name. The jamabandi lists the khata and khesra; no login needed.
• From the map: open the mauza map on bhunaksha.bihar.gov.in and click the parcel to see its khesra number.
• Khatiyan: bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in searches by khata, khesra or raiyat name.

Every record in one place, and which number each one needs: Bihar Land Records Online: complete guide. Which circle your land falls in: all 23 Patna circles.

Kattha, dhur and decimal in Patna: how big is 1 kattha?

Government records mostly give area in acres and decimals, while Patna deals are struck in kattha and dhur. The kattha varies across Bihar; the Revenue Department's glossary puts it at 1361 sq ft in the Patna area. The same glossary gives 1 dhur = 1/20 kattha and 20 dhurki (kala) = 1 dhur. A bigha is about 20 kattha, and 1 decimal = 1/100 acre (435.6 sq ft).

Decimal to kattha: decimals ÷ 3.125 = kattha; multiply the fraction by 20 to get dhur.
Example: the jamabandi shows 10 decimals → 10 ÷ 3.125 = 3.2 kattha → 0.2 × 20 = 4 dhur, i.e. 3 kattha 4 dhur (about 4,356 sq ft).

Kattha to decimal: kattha × 3.125. For example, 2 kattha 10 dhur = 2.5 kattha × 3.125 = 7.8125 decimals.

These figures take 1 kattha = 1/32 acre (1,361.25 sq ft), which matches the glossary's 1361 sq ft. Any other area: our free kattha to sq ft converter.

What should you do? (our advice)

• Ask the broker for these first: circle, mauza (with thana number), khata, khesra and area. A colony plot number and a coloured layout are not enough to check anything.
• Before paying any token, check the jamabandi yourself: the khesra is in the seller's name and enough area is left. Don't rely on screenshots the seller sends.
• On site, carry the Bhu-Naksha LPM report and match the neighbouring khesras.
• Write the kattha figure in decimals too, so there is no "Patna kattha or village kattha" dispute later.
• Full checklist: plot buying guide for Patna. All our land-record guides: Land Records.

Khata and khesra: frequently asked questions

1. Does the khata number change after a sale?

   No. Per the Revenue Glossary, the same khata number passes with the land to the new owner. This happens after a sale or succession. What changes is the jamabandi: after mutation, a new jamabandi opens in the buyer's name, and rent is paid on that.

2. Is the thana number a police station number?

   No. In land records it is the revenue thana number: the identification number of a revenue village (mauza). It has nothing to do with the police station of the area.

3. Will the special survey change my khata and khesra numbers?

   It can. The Special Survey draws a fresh map and a new record of rights. So new numbers need not match the old CS/RS ones. On Bhu-Naksha, open both the old and the SS map of your mauza; only a "Final Published Map" is final. If the new survey shows a wrong name, khesra or area, use the claim and objection options on dlrs.bihar.gov.in. Objections have fixed time windows. More: Bhu-Naksha guide.

4. Is a kattha the same size in every village of Patna district?

   Not always. The glossary gives 1361 sq ft for the Patna area, but older local practice can differ in some villages. So even when the deal is in kattha, have the deed state the area in decimals or acres too. For a large purchase, get the land measured by an amin.