Karnataka Property Terms Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the key terms used in Karnataka property and land record verification. Understanding these terms helps you make informed decisions when buying, selling, or investing in property.
RTC
Record of Rights, Tenancy and CropsThe primary Karnataka land record maintained by the Revenue Department. It records the owner name, survey number, land extent, tenancy details, and crop information. Also called Pahani. Available via the Bhoomi portal.
Pahani
Pahani (another name for RTC)Another commonly used name for the RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops) in Karnataka. Both terms refer to the same Revenue Department land record.
EC
Encumbrance CertificateAn official document issued by the Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) that lists all registered transactions (sales, mortgages, leases, gift deeds) on a property over a specified time period. A clean EC means no registered liabilities. Available via the Kaveri 2.0 portal.
Bhoomi
Bhoomi Land Records SystemThe Karnataka government's computerised land records management system. It digitises RTCs, mutation registers, and related documents for all agricultural land parcels in Karnataka. Website: bhoomi.karnataka.gov.in.
Kaveri
Kaveri / Kaveri 2.0The Karnataka government's online property registration and Encumbrance Certificate (EC) portal, operated by the Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps. Used to search registered sale deeds and retrieve ECs. Website: kaverionline.karnataka.gov.in.
Khata
Khata (Municipal Property Record)A municipal or panchayat record that identifies a property for tax assessment purposes. 'A Khata' indicates a legal, approved property; 'B Khata' may indicate layout approval or plan issues. Khata transfer is required when ownership changes in urban areas like Bengaluru (BBMP).
Mutation
Mutation / Khata TransferThe administrative process of updating government revenue records to reflect a change of ownership after a sale, inheritance, gift, or partition. Without mutation, the new owner's name does not appear in official land records even if the sale deed is registered with the SRO.
SRO
Sub-Registrar OfficeThe government office responsible for registering property documents — sale deeds, gift deeds, mortgage deeds, lease agreements — under the Registration Act. The SRO issues document registration numbers and is the source of Encumbrance Certificate data in Kaveri.
Tippan
Tippan (Field Survey Sketch)The detailed field measurement sketch of a specific survey number, prepared by the Survey Settlement and Land Records Department. It shows the exact dimensions, boundary measurements, and adjacency of a land parcel. Used to verify that a property's physical extent matches its documents.
Akarband
Akarband (Revenue Survey Map)The revenue survey map of a village or area showing all survey number parcels, their extents, and relative positions. Used alongside the Tippan to verify a property's boundaries within the larger village survey layout.
Hissa
Hissa (Sub-division of Survey Number)A sub-division of a larger survey number. When a survey number is split among multiple owners (e.g., after inheritance or partition), each portion gets a Hissa number. Verification of the correct Hissa is important to confirm the exact land parcel being sold.
RERA
Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act / RERA KarnatakaRERA is the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act 2016. In Karnataka, RERA registration is mandatory for residential projects above a threshold size. RERA Karnataka (rera.karnataka.gov.in) is the portal where projects and agents must be registered. Naaz Verify checks RERA registration status for applicable properties.
Patta
Patta / Title DeedA document issued by the Revenue Department conferring ownership rights over land. In Karnataka, the term is more commonly used in southern districts and is broadly equivalent to the RTC-based ownership record.
Sale Deed
Sale Deed (Registered Purchase Agreement)The primary legal document that transfers ownership of a property from seller to buyer. A sale deed must be executed on stamp paper of appropriate value, signed by both parties with witnesses, and registered at the Sub-Registrar Office to be legally valid.
Title Chain
Chain of Title / Title HistoryThe chronological sequence of all previous owners of a property, reconstructed from sale deeds, partition deeds, gift deeds, and mutation records. A clean, unbroken title chain — typically over 30+ years — is essential to confirm marketable title.
Due Diligence
Property Due DiligenceA comprehensive investigation of a property's legal, physical, and regulatory status before purchase. It typically includes title chain analysis, EC review, RTC check, survey sketch verification, zoning compliance check, and litigation scan. Naaz Verify offers due diligence reports as a formal service.
BDA
Bangalore Development AuthorityThe statutory planning authority for Bengaluru Metropolitan Region. Properties within BDA-approved layouts have confirmed plan sanction. Naaz Verify checks BDA layout approval status where relevant.
BBMP
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara PalikeThe municipal corporation governing Greater Bengaluru. BBMP issues Khata certificates for properties within its jurisdiction and manages property tax. A Khata from BBMP is typically required for property transactions in Bengaluru.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty on Property RegistrationA state tax levied on the registered value of property transactions. In Karnataka, stamp duty and registration charges must be paid and the document registered at the SRO for the sale to be legally recognised. Unpaid stamp duty is a red flag in property verification.
