Quick answerThe most important terms for a Tricity buyer: fard (copy of the land record), intkal (mutation of ownership in that record), marla (272.25 sq ft in revenue records), collector rate (minimum registration value), carpet area (usable area inside the walls) and OC/CC (the certificate that a building is complete).
Land records & revenue terms
- Fard · फर्द / ਫ਼ਰਦ
- A certified copy of the land record (jamabandi) for a piece of land, showing who owns it, their share and any mortgage noted. Buyers ask for a fresh fard before a land or plot deal. See Punjab land records.
- Jamabandi · जमाबंदी / ਜਮ੍ਹਾਂਬੰਦੀ
- The record of rights for a village: owners, cultivators, shares and khasra numbers. It is the main ownership record for agricultural and village land in Punjab and Haryana.
- Khasra (number) · खसरा / ਖਸਰਾ
- The survey number of a field or plot on the village map. One owner can hold several khasra numbers.
- Khewat (number) · खेवट / ਖੇਵਟ
- The ownership account number in the jamabandi, grouping the land held by a set of owners.
- Khatauni (number) · खतौनी / ਖਤੌਨੀ
- The cultivation account number, showing who actually cultivates the land.
- Intkal (mutation) · इंतकाल / ਇੰਤਕਾਲ
- The entry that changes the owner’s name in the revenue record after a sale, gift or inheritance. A registered sale deed alone does not update the land record; the mutation does.
- Girdawari · गिरदावरी / ਗਿਰਦਾਵਰੀ
- The crop inspection record kept by the patwari, noting who cultivates the land and what is grown.
- Aks Shajra · अक्स शजरा / ਅਕਸ ਸ਼ਜਰਾ
- A copy of the village map (shajra) showing the shape and location of each khasra.
- Patwari · पटवारी / ਪਟਵਾਰੀ
- The village revenue official who maintains the land records and prepares mutations.
- Tehsildar / Naib Tehsildar · तहसीलदार
- Revenue officers of the tehsil. In Punjab they also act as sub-registrars for property registration.
- Lal Lakir / Abadi · लाल लकीर / ਲਾਲ ਲਕੀਰ
- The old inhabited area of a village (called Lal Dora in Delhi and Haryana), traditionally outside the detailed revenue record. Ownership proof there can be weaker, so extra checks are needed.
- Shamlat · शामलात / ਸ਼ਾਮਲਾਤ
- Village common land. It generally cannot be sold privately — be very careful with any deal involving it.
Measurement units
- Marla · मरला / ਮਰਲਾ
- In Punjab and Haryana revenue records, 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft. Some urban developers use 225 or 250 sq ft — always check the conversion used in your documents.
- Kanal · कनाल / ਕਨਾਲ
- 20 marla = 5,445 sq ft = 605 sq yd. Eight kanal make one acre.
- Gaz (square yard) · गज़ / ਗਜ਼
- 1 sq yd = 9 sq ft. Plots in Mohali, Zirakpur and Kharar are usually sold in gaz.
- Killa · किल्ला / ਕਿੱਲਾ
- One acre (43,560 sq ft), the usual unit for farmland in Punjab.
- Murabba · मुरब्बा / ਮੁਰੱਬਾ
- A block of 25 acres (25 killa) used in Punjab revenue records.
- Bigha · बीघा / ਵਿੱਘਾ
- A local unit that varies from place to place. Never rely on bigha alone — convert to sq ft or acres in writing. Try our land unit converter.
Buying & legal terms
- Bayana (earnest money) · बयाना / ਬਿਆਨਾ
- The advance paid when a buyer and seller agree a deal, usually recorded in an agreement to sell or a bayana receipt. Use our token / bayana receipt.
- Agreement to sell · इकरारनामा
- A written agreement setting the price, payment schedule and deadline for registering the sale. It does not transfer ownership by itself.
- Sale deed / Registry · बैनामा / रजिस्ट्री
- The deed that transfers ownership, signed before the sub-registrar after stamp duty is paid.
- Conveyance deed · कन्वेयंस डीड
- The deed by which a builder transfers a flat or plot to the buyer, registered at possession.
- Collector rate (circle rate) · कलेक्टर रेट
- The minimum value per unit fixed by the district for registration. Stamp duty is charged on the higher of the price and the collector value. Find yours with the Collector Rate Finder.
- E-stamp · ई-स्टांप
- Stamp duty paid electronically, with a printed certificate that is attached to the deed.
- Encumbrance · भार
- Any claim on a property, such as a mortgage or court attachment. Check that the land is free of encumbrances before paying.
- GPA / SPA · मुख्तारनामा
- General or Special Power of Attorney — authority to act for someone else. A power of attorney is not a sale deed and does not transfer ownership.
- NOC · एनओसी
- No Objection Certificate — from a society, builder, bank, development authority or municipal body, depending on the property.
- CLU · सीएलयू
- Change of Land Use — permission to use agricultural land for housing, commercial or industrial purposes. Projects on farmland need it.
- Approved / regularised colony · मंज़ूरशुदा कॉलोनी
- A colony whose layout is approved, or later regularised, by the competent authority. See buying a plot.
Builder, area & pricing terms
- RERA · रेरा
- The real estate regulator. Projects and agents must be registered with the state RERA. See RERA & legal.
- Carpet area · कार्पेट एरिया
- The usable floor area inside the walls of a flat. Under RERA, prices must be quoted on carpet area.
- Built-up area · बिल्ट-अप एरिया
- Carpet area plus the thickness of walls and balconies.
- Super area (super built-up) · सुपर एरिया
- Built-up area plus a share of lobbies, lifts and common areas. It can be 25–40% more than carpet area — compare prices on carpet area.
- BSP · बीएसपी
- Basic Sale Price — the headline price before extra charges.
- PLC · पीएलसी
- Preferential Location Charge for a corner, park-facing or higher floor unit.
- EDC / IDC · ईडीसी / आईडीसी
- External and Internal Development Charges levied by the development authority, often passed on to buyers.
- Allotment letter · अलॉटमेंट लेटर
- The builder’s letter confirming the unit allotted to you and the payment plan.
- Possession letter · पज़ेशन लेटर
- The builder’s letter handing over the unit. Check for the completion certificate before accepting it.
- OC / CC · ओसी / सीसी
- Occupation Certificate / Completion Certificate — confirmation from the authority that the building is complete as per approved plans and fit to occupy.
- CLP · सीएलपी
- Construction-Linked Plan — payments due as construction stages are completed. See under-construction homes.
Loan & tax terms
- EMI · ईएमआई
- Equated Monthly Instalment — the fixed monthly loan payment covering interest and principal. Try the EMI calculator.
- Pre-EMI · प्री-ईएमआई
- Interest-only payments on the part of the loan released during construction.
- FOIR · एफओआईआर
- Fixed Obligation to Income Ratio — the share of monthly income banks allow for all EMIs, usually 40–60%.
- LTV · एलटीवी
- Loan to Value — the maximum share of the property value a bank will lend.
- Sanction letter · सैंक्शन लेटर
- The bank’s approval of your loan amount, rate and terms, before disbursement.
- TDS on property · टीडीएस
- Tax a buyer deducts from the payment to the seller: 1% for resident sellers at ₹50 lakh and above, higher rates for NRI sellers. See the NRI TDS calculator.
- Capital gains · पूंजीगत लाभ
- The profit on selling a property, taxed as short-term or long-term. See the capital gains tax calculator.
- Cost Inflation Index (CII) · सीआईआई
- The index used to adjust purchase cost for inflation: 384 for 2026-27.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fard and jamabandi?
The jamabandi is the full record of rights for a village. A fard is a certified copy of the part of that record covering a particular piece of land. You ask for a fard to check one property.
How many square feet are in a marla in Punjab?
In Punjab and Haryana revenue records, 1 marla = 272.25 sq ft and 1 kanal (20 marla) = 5,445 sq ft. Some developers use a different marla, so check the figure in your documents.
Is a power of attorney the same as owning the property?
No. A power of attorney only lets someone act for the owner. Ownership passes through a registered sale or conveyance deed, followed by mutation in the land record where applicable.
What does carpet area mean?
The usable floor area inside the walls of a flat, excluding walls, balconies and common areas. Under RERA, builders must quote prices on carpet area.
Written by Manoj JangraFounder, GarahPravesh — Punjab RERA registered real estate agent (PBRERA-SAS79-REA2620), advising Tricity buyers since 2019. Last reviewed 29 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice; please read our Disclaimer.