Property records in India use a range of official terminology that can be confusing for buyers who are not familiar with revenue administration. Survey Number, Khasra Number, Hissa, and Sub-Division Number are terms you will encounter repeatedly in Karnataka property transactions. Here is what each one means.
Survey Number
A Survey Number is the unique identification number assigned to a parcel of land during the cadastral survey conducted by the Revenue Department. In Karnataka, the land survey was conducted primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries under British administration, and each distinct parcel was given a Survey Number. The Survey Number is the backbone of all land records , it appears in the RTC, the EC, the sale deed, and the tax records.
When you buy a plot in Karnataka, the Survey Number must be consistently mentioned and match across all documents. A discrepancy in Survey Numbers across documents is a serious red flag.
Khasra Number
Khasra Number is essentially the same concept as Survey Number , it is the term used in North and Central Indian states (UP, MP, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar etc.) for the same type of unique land parcel identifier. In Karnataka, the term Survey Number is used. If you see "Khasra Number" in a Karnataka document, it is an older usage or a document prepared for land in a different state. In Karnataka property transactions, always look for the Survey Number.
Hissa Number
When a Survey Number is subdivided (e.g., when a large parcel is split between heirs or sold in portions), each subdivision gets a Hissa Number (also written as "H.No." in records). So a property might be described as "Survey No. 45, Hissa No. 3" , meaning it is the third subdivision of Survey Number 45.
The RTC will reflect both the Survey Number and the Hissa Number if the original survey has been subdivided. Verify that the Hissa you are buying matches the physical boundaries on the ground.
Sub-Division Number
This is the same as Hissa in practical usage , it is the number assigned to a subdivision of a survey. In some documents and some districts of Karnataka, you will see "Sub-Division No." rather than "Hissa No."
Plot Number
Plot Numbers are assigned by the layout developer (BDA, private developer, or gram panchayat) when agricultural land is subdivided into residential plots. The Plot Number is a development-level number , it does not replace the Survey Number. A plot will have both a Survey Number (or Hissa Number) from the Revenue Department and a Plot Number from the layout developer.
When buying a plot, verify that the Plot Number in the sale deed corresponds to the correct Survey/Hissa Number in the revenue records.
PID Number (Property Identification Number)
For urban properties within BBMP limits, the PID (Property Identification Number) or SAS (Self Assessment Scheme) number is the municipal tax identifier. It is used for Khata and property tax purposes , it does not replace the Survey Number in revenue records.
Why Consistency Across Documents Matters
Every document in a property transaction , the Sale Deed, EC, RTC, Khata, and Tax Receipt , must refer to the same Survey Number, Hissa Number, and Plot Number. Inconsistencies between these identifiers are a common source of title defects and future disputes. Our team checks this consistency as part of every property document verification in Bangalore. Also see: How to read an RTC Pahani , the survey/hissa numbers are the primary identifiers in that document.