Land Records: Khasra & Khatauni — Set 17

Correct Answer: B. A person who has hereditary cultivating rights over agricultural land

Khatedaar (in Rajasthan and some other States) or Sirdaar refers to a person who holds hereditary cultivating rights over agricultural land, as recognised under State revenue laws. A Khatedaar has the right to cultivate, transfer, and mortgage the land. The Khatedaar's name appears in the Khatauni or Record of Rights as the primary landowner or holder. This classification gives cultivators security of tenure and protects them from arbitrary eviction.

Correct Answer: B. To maintain village land records and conduct field inspections

The Lekhpal (in Uttar Pradesh) or Patwari (in most other States) is the lowest-level revenue official responsible for maintaining village land records. The Patwari prepares and updates the Khasra, Khatauni, and other land records, conducts Girdawari (field inspections), measures land when required, and keeps track of mutations. The Patwari's records are the primary source documents for all land-related activities in the village. They are supervised by Revenue Inspectors and the Tehsildar.

Correct Answer: B. Karnataka

Karnataka was one of the first States in India to computerise its land records through the landmark 'Bhoomi' project launched in 2000. Before Bhoomi, obtaining land records required visiting the Patwari and the process was prone to corruption and delays. The Bhoomi project computerised about 20 million land records and enabled citizens to obtain Record of Rights (RTC) certificates online at any time. Karnataka's Bhoomi project became a model for land record computerisation across India.

Correct Answer: B. The registration of a property sale is automatically updated in the land records

Integration of registration with land records means that when a property transaction is registered at the Sub-Registrar's office, the change in ownership is automatically updated in the land records (Khasra-Khatauni). This eliminates the separate mutation process that previously required landowners to separately apply for mutation after registration. Real-time integration prevents discrepancies between registered ownership and land records, reducing scope for fraud. Several States including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh have made progress in this integration.

Correct Answer: B. DILRMP to create a unique ID for every land parcel in India

The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) — also called Bhu-Aadhaar — is being implemented as part of DILRMP to create a unique 14-digit alphanumeric ID for every land parcel in India based on its geo-coordinates. This system aims to uniquely identify each land parcel across all land records databases, eliminating duplication and ambiguity. ULPIN is analogous to the Aadhaar number for land and will make it impossible to double-register or fraudulently transfer land. The geo-referencing of cadastral maps is a prerequisite for implementing ULPIN.

Correct Answer: B. It is the highest revenue court and supervisory authority over revenue administration

The Board of Revenue is the highest revenue authority in a State, serving as both the apex revenue court (hearing appeals from lower revenue courts) and the supervisory body over the entire revenue administration including land records, land revenue, and land acquisition. It is headed by a Chairman (usually a senior IAS officer) with members who are also senior officers. Decisions of the Board of Revenue can be appealed to the High Court. The Board issues circulars and guidelines to ensure uniform implementation of revenue laws across the State.

Correct Answer: B. Government-owned urban land under the control of local urban bodies

Nazul land refers to urban government-owned land that is managed by urban local bodies (municipal corporations or councils) rather than the State Revenue Department. Historically, Nazul land comprised properties that escheated to the Crown (British government) and were then passed on to local bodies after independence. Nazul land is leased out to individuals, institutions, or commercial entities by the local body for specified purposes and durations. Management of Nazul land is governed by specific Nazul rules in each State.

Correct Answer: B. Common land belonging to the village community

Shamlat (or Shamilat Deh) refers to common village land that belongs to the village community as a whole and is used for common purposes such as grazing, fuel, gathering of minor produce, and community activities. It is also known as Common Land Resources or village common land. Shamlat land cannot be privately owned and is managed by the Gram Panchayat or other community bodies. In many States, Shamlat land has been illegally encroached upon by powerful individuals, leading to legal disputes and government efforts to protect it.

Correct Answer: B. Record of Rights (Khasra-Khatauni or Jamabandi)

The Record of Rights (Khasra-Khatauni in most States or Jamabandi in Punjab/Haryana) serves as the primary document to establish land ownership or possession for availing agricultural credit. Banks require a certified copy of the Record of Rights along with the land document (Patta or sale deed) to process Kisan Credit Card applications and agricultural term loans. The land records establish the quantum of land held, enabling banks to assess the credit eligibility. Computerised and online land records have made this process faster and more transparent.

Correct Answer: B. It links land parcel maps to geographic coordinates enabling spatial analysis

Geo-referencing of cadastral maps under DILRMP involves linking the traditional village-level cadastral (land survey) maps to geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). This allows integration of land parcel data with satellite imagery and GIS platforms, enabling spatial analysis of land use patterns. Geo-referenced maps can detect encroachments, identify discrepancies between maps and ground reality, and support better land administration decisions. This is also a prerequisite for implementing the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) system.