Conversion Reference (from GoRT)
| Unit | Square Metres |
|---|---|
| 1 Kanal20 Marla = 5,445 sq.ft = 1/8 acre | 505.86 sq.m |
| 1 Marla9 Sirsai = 272.25 sq.ft (standard) | 25.29 sq.m |
| 1 Sirsai1/9 Marla = 30.25 sq.ft | 2.81 sq.m |
| 1 Acre8 Kanal = 43,560 sq.ft | 4,046.86 sq.m |
| 1 Hectare100 Are = 2.471 acres | 10,000.00 sq.m |
| 1 Are100 sq.m = 1/100 hectare | 100.00 sq.m |
| 1 Square Metre10.764 sq.ft | 1.00 sq.m |
| 1 Square Foot1/9 sq.yard | 0.09 sq.m |
Trilingual Revenue Terms (from GoRT Section II)
| English | Hindi | Urdu | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| District | ज़िला | ضعبا / ضلع | Zila |
| Tehsil | तहसील | تحصیل | Tehsil |
| Village | गाँव / मौजा | موضع / گاؤں | Mauza |
| Record of Rights | अधिकार अभिलेख | مسل حقیت | Misal-e-Hakiyat |
| Annual Record / Jamabandi | जमाबंदी | جمع بندی | Jamabandi |
| Survey / Plot Number | खसरा संख्या | خسرہ نمبر | Khasra Number |
| Ownership Holding Number | खेवट | کھیوٹ | Khewat |
| Cultivation Holding Number | खतौनी | کھتونی | Khatauni |
| Owner | मालिक / स्वामी | مالک | Malik |
| Area / Extent | रकबा / क्षेत्रफल | رقبہ | Rakba |
| Land Revenue | भू-राजस्व / मालिया | مالیہ / لگان | Malia |
| Village Revenue Officer | पटवारी | پٹواری | Patwari |
Area Unit Description (from GoRT)
In Jammu & Kashmir, land in the Misal-e-Hakiyat (Record of Rights) and the annual Jamabandi is recorded in the traditional Kanal–Marla–Sirsai system inherited from the dogra-era settlement. One Kanal equals 20 Marla and measures 5,445 sq.ft (about 505.86 sq.m, or one-eighth of an acre); each Marla of 272.25 sq.ft divides into 9 Sirsai (also called Sarsai/Sarsahi) of 30.25 sq.ft each. Urban and agricultural deeds increasingly cross-reference metric units (Are, Hectare) and the acre, so this converter maps every traditional unit to its exact metric and imperial equivalent. Note that some pockets of the Jammu division historically used a 225 sq.ft Marla and rural Bigha/Biswa measures vary locally — always confirm the unit basis recorded in the Khasra and Jamabandi for the specific village.
Legal Framework
- The Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996 (1939 A.D.) — the principal law governing revenue records, the Misal-e-Hakiyat / Jamabandi, Khasra, Khewat and the office of the Patwari; continued in force after 2019 with amendments.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue (Amendment) Act — post-reorganisation amendments restricting transfer and conversion of agricultural land to non-agriculturists.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 — governs tiller rights and ceilings; amended after the 2019 reorganisation.
- The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 — extended to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (effective 31 October 2019), governing sale, mortgage and transfer of immovable property.
- The Registration Act, 1908 — extended to the Union Territory post-reorganisation, governing compulsory registration of land documents.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 — repealed several erstwhile state land laws (including the Big Landed Estates Abolition Act and the Alienation of Land Act) and extended central laws; under the adapted framework non-residents may now purchase non-agricultural land in the UT.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Marla are in one Kanal in Jammu & Kashmir?
One Kanal equals 20 Marla. A Kanal measures 5,445 sq.ft (about 505.86 sq.m), so one Marla is 272.25 sq.ft (about 25.29 sq.m). This is the standard ratio recorded in the J&K Jamabandi and Misal-e-Hakiyat.
What is a Sirsai and how does it relate to a Marla?
A Sirsai (also spelt Sarsai or Sarsahi) is the smallest traditional unit. One Marla equals 9 Sirsai, so a single Sirsai is about 30.25 sq.ft or 2.81 sq.m. It is mainly used for small plot fractions in rural revenue records.
How many Kanal make one acre in J&K?
One acre equals 8 Kanal (43,560 sq.ft). Equivalently, one Kanal is one-eighth of an acre, which is why Kanal is the most common unit for sizing residential and agricultural plots across Jammu & Kashmir.
Is the Marla the same size everywhere in Jammu & Kashmir?
Mostly yes — the standard Marla is 272.25 sq.ft, used in this converter. However, some pockets, especially in parts of the Jammu division, historically used a smaller 225 sq.ft Marla. Always check the unit basis noted in the village Jamabandi and Khasra before relying on a conversion.
Are Bigha and Biswa used in Jammu & Kashmir?
The official J&K revenue system uses Kanal, Marla and Sirsai rather than Bigha/Biswa, which are standard in neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Where Bigha is used informally in rural Jammu pockets, its value is not standardised and varies by locality, so it should be verified against the recorded Rakba and not assumed.
What is the Misal-e-Hakiyat and where do I find my land's area?
The Misal-e-Hakiyat is the Record of Rights (RoR) for a village, and the Jamabandi is its periodically updated copy showing the owner (Malik), holding numbers (Khewat/Khatauni), survey number (Khasra) and area (Rakba). The Rakba states the plot size in Kanal–Marla–Sirsai, which you can verify on the Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani portal.
Can non-residents buy land in Jammu & Kashmir after 2019?
Following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, several restrictive state land laws were repealed and central laws extended. People from outside the UT can now purchase non-agricultural land, while transfer of agricultural land remains restricted under the amended Land Revenue Act. Confirm the current rules and land classification before any transaction.
