Introduction and Definition of Khasra
Khasra is a Persian-derived legal term used in the revenue administration of North Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Bihar. It serves as a plot-wise register of agricultural lands maintained at the village level.
- Maintained by the village revenue official known as the Lekhpal (formerly Patwari).
- Contains exact numerical survey numbers (Khasra numbers) assigned to every distinct parcel of agricultural land within a revenue village (Mauza).
- Acts as a primary document for identifying land parcels during agricultural census, crop cutting experiments, and agricultural taxation.
Contents and Information Recorded in Khasra
The Khasra document contains exhaustive details regarding land use, agronomic practices, and ownership parameters for each agricultural season across the agricultural year (fasli year).
- Plot Number (Khasra Number): Unique identification number assigned to every land parcel during revenue settlement surveys.
- Area and Ownership: Total geographical area, cultivated area, uncultivated area, name of the recorded landowner (Khatedar), and tenant particulars.
- Crop Details: Specific crops grown during different agricultural seasons—Kharif (Autumn), Rabi (Spring), and Zaid (Summer).
- Soil Type and Irrigation: Classification of soil texture/fertility status and the primary source of irrigation (e.g., tube well, canal, open well).
Agricultural Seasons (Fasli Years) and Khasra Entries
In Uttar Pradesh, agricultural land revenue and crop inspections (Girdawari) are tied to the Fasli calendar year, which begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th.
- Kharif Season (Fasli Quarter 1): Crop inspection conducted by the Lekhpal starting around August 10th (locally known as Padtal).
- Rabi Season (Fasli Quarter 2): Crop inspection initiated around January 1st to record winter crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum).
- Zaid Season (Fasli Quarter 3): Inspection conducted around May 1st covering summer catch crops, green manures, and cucurbitaceous vegetables.
Significance of Khasra in Agricultural Economics and Policy
Khasra data is indispensable for macro-level agricultural planning, crop estimation surveys, and disaster relief disbursements.
- Provides empirical baseline data for calculating crop yields via Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs).
- Enables governments to disburse agricultural input subsidies, minimum support price (MSP) procurement passes, and crop insurance claims (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana).
- Serves as legally admissible evidence in civil and revenue courts regarding land possession and boundary disputes.
Digitization of Revenue Records: Computerized Khasra in Uttar Pradesh
Under modern e-governance initiatives by the Board of Revenue, Uttar Pradesh, manual Khasra registers have been computerized under portals like Bhulekh UP.
- Farmers can access real-time Khasra status, plot area, and mutation records online using unique plot identification numbers.
- Reduces human discretion, minimizes land litigation, and ensures transparency in rural land transactions.
- Integrates geospatial data with textual revenue records for precise remote sensing-based crop acreage estimation.
| Feature / Parameter | Khasra | Khatauni |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Plot-wise field survey register | Account-wise land ownership register |
| Primary Focus | Physical land use, crops, soil, and season | Legal ownership shares of landholders |
| Maintenance Official | Lekhpal (Village Revenue Officer) | Lekhpal / Supervisor Kanoongo |
| Number of Columns | Typically 22 columns in UP revenue manual | Varies based on ownership holding entries |
| Update Frequency | Seasonally (Kharif, Rabi, Zaid) | Periodically upon inheritance, sale, or partition |
K stands for Kharif (August inspection), R stands for Rabi (January inspection), and Z stands for Zaid (May inspection). This reminds students of the three seasonal crop inspections recorded in the Khasra register.
- Khasra is a plot-wise legal revenue document maintained by the village Lekhpal in Uttar Pradesh.
- The agricultural crop inspection recorded in the Khasra register is legally designated as Girdawari or Padtal.
- The agricultural revenue year in Uttar Pradesh starts on 1st July and ends on 30th June (Fasli Year).
- Khasra contains 22 standard columns detailing soil class, irrigation source, crop grown, seed rate/area, and yield status in traditional UP revenue manuals.
- Khatauni is the legal record of rights (ROR) showing ownership holdings, whereas Khasra is primarily a field register of land utilization and crop tracking.
- Students often confuse Khasra with Khatauni; remember that Khasra is plot-centric (survey number wise), while Khatauni is owner-centric (account holder wise).
- Many confuse the Lekhpal with the Tehsildar; the Lekhpal prepares the Khasra at the village level, while the Tehsildar exercises judicial and administrative control at the tehsil level.