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Census and land record glossary

Census tables and land records use a vocabulary that changes from state to state, and the same document can carry four different names across the country. These are the terms that come up most often on this site, explained in plain language.

Tehsil

Also called: Taluka, Mandal, Block, Circle

The administrative unit between a district and a village.
Revenue village

Also called: Mauza, Mouza

The smallest unit with its own land records, which may contain several hamlets.
Sex ratio
The number of females for every 1000 males.
Child sex ratio
Females per 1000 males counting only children aged 0 to 6.
Literacy rate
The share of people aged 7 and over who can read and write with understanding.
Rural and urban
How the census decides whether a place counts as a town or a village.
Household
A group of people who normally live together and eat from a common kitchen.
Census house
A structure with a separate entrance, used for any purpose.
SECC

Also called: Socio Economic and Caste Census

A separate 2011 survey used to decide eligibility for welfare schemes.
Gram Panchayat
The elected local government for one or more villages.
Khasra
The plot number in the land record, and the record of that plot.
Khatauni
The account of all land held by one owner in a village.
Jamabandi
The record of rights, revised periodically, used in north and west India.
Mutation

Also called: Dakhil Kharij, Namantaran

Transferring the name in the revenue record after a sale or inheritance.
Record of Rights

Also called: ROR, 7/12, RTC, Pahani, Adangal

The document showing who holds a piece of land and on what terms.
Pincode

Also called: PIN, Postal Index Number

A six digit code identifying a postal delivery area, not a single village.
Patwari

Also called: Lekhpal, Talati, Karnam, Village Accountant

The village level revenue official who maintains land records.
Decadal growth rate
The percentage change in population between two censuses ten years apart.

Page last reviewed: August 2026. See also about the data and Census 2027.

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