Conversion Reference (from GoRT)
| Unit | Square Metres |
|---|---|
| 1 AcreStandard imperial land unit used across Nagaland's surveyed records | 4,046.86 sq.m |
| 1 HectareMetric unit used in government and cadastral records | 10,000.00 sq.m |
| 1 Square MetreBase SI unit of area | 1.00 sq.m |
| 1 AreMetric unit equal to 100 sq.m, used in parts of North East India | 100.00 sq.m |
| 1 Square FeetImperial unit used for plots and built-up area | 0.09 sq.m |
Trilingual Revenue Terms (from GoRT Section II)
| English | Local Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| District | District | Records maintained in English; one of 16+ districts |
| Village / Khel | Khel | Khel = a clan-based ward or division within a village |
| Survey Number | Survey No. / Dag No. | Recorded only in cadastrally surveyed villages |
| Patta | Patta | Title / occupancy record, mainly in Dimapur and surveyed areas |
| Chitta | Chitta | Account of land holding extent and ownership |
| Jamabandi | Jamabandi | Record of Rights register maintained for surveyed villages |
| Owner / Clan | Clan / Khel owner | Title often vests in clan or village, not a single individual |
| Extent / Area | Area | Measured in Acre, Hectare or Square Metre where surveyed |
| Land Revenue | Khajana | Collected mainly in Dimapur Mouza under the 1886 Regulation |
Area Unit Description (from GoRT)
Nagaland is unlike most Indian states: there is no single state-wide cadastral land system. Under Article 371A of the Constitution, ownership and transfer of land follow Naga customary law, and the vast majority of land is held collectively by communities, clans (administered by clan elders), and villages, with individual ownership recognised only within those customary frameworks. The state government's authority over land is limited and primarily covers government-owned land. Cadastral survey and formal Record of Rights (Chitta / Jamabandi / Patta) exist only in some surveyed villages and in the Dimapur Mouza, where the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 is applied and land revenue is collected. Where land has been surveyed, extent is recorded in metric units (Hectare, Square Metre, Are) and the Acre, so this converter helps translate between those units — but for most land in the state, boundaries and rights are governed by customary practice rather than survey numbers.
Legal Framework
- Article 371A of the Constitution of India — special provision for Nagaland; no Act of Parliament on Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources applies unless the Nagaland Legislative Assembly so decides.
- The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 (as applied to Nagaland) — applied in full to the Dimapur Mouza (cadastral survey area) and followed in spirit elsewhere; basis for land revenue records.
- The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 (Inner Line Regulation) — restricts entry and land settlement, protecting tribal land.
- The Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act, 1978 (Nagaland Act No. 1 of 1979) — constitutes Village and Area Councils that administer land and justice under customary law and usage.
- Naga customary laws and usages — the primary, largely unwritten basis for community, clan, village and individual land rights, varying by tribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main land unit used in Nagaland?
In surveyed villages and Dimapur, land is recorded in metric units — Hectare, Square Metre and Are — along with the Acre. There is no distinctive traditional metric land unit codified in Nagaland's revenue records; most everyday measurement uses the Acre and metric units.
Who owns land in Nagaland?
Most land is owned collectively by communities, clans and villages, with individual ownership recognised only within Naga customary law. This is constitutionally protected under Article 371A, which gives the Nagaland Legislative Assembly control over land matters and limits the state and central government's authority over land.
Does Nagaland have cadastral survey and land records like other states?
Only partly. Cadastral survey and formal Record of Rights (Chitta, Jamabandi, Patta) exist in some surveyed villages and in the Dimapur Mouza. Survey work in remaining districts has been progressing in phases. Across most of the state, land is governed by customary practice without survey numbers.
What is the Dimapur Mouza and why is it special?
The Dimapur Mouza (about 47.5 sq.km of cadastral survey area) is the one part of Nagaland where the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 is fully implemented and land revenue is collected, dating back to the British period. Land here is recorded with Patta and survey numbers like in other states.
How do I convert between Acre, Hectare and Square Metre in Nagaland?
Use exact factors: 1 Acre = 4046.86 sq.m, 1 Hectare = 10,000 sq.m, 1 Are = 100 sq.m, and 1 Square Foot = 0.0929 sq.m. So 1 Hectare ≈ 2.471 Acres. This converter applies these standard values.
Can outsiders buy land in Nagaland?
Land transfer is heavily restricted. Under Article 371A, the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 (Inner Line) and customary law, land generally cannot be transferred to non-indigenous persons, and most transactions require approval of the village or clan authority. Always verify rights through the Village Council and, where applicable, the Directorate of Land Records and Survey.
Is Hindi used in Nagaland land records?
No. Nagaland's land and revenue records are maintained in English, with Naga languages used locally. Hindi is not the language of land records, so this converter pairs English revenue terms with their local usage rather than Hindi transliteration.
