These four record types form the backbone of land administration in Aligarh and across all of Uttar Pradesh. Each serves a different purpose, and property buyers, farmers, and legal professionals use them at different stages of a transaction.
| Record type | Meaning | Main usage |
| Khatauni | Ownership register | Verifying who legally owns a plot |
| Khasra | Plot identification and details | Checking plot size, category, and land use |
| Gata number | Unique land parcel number | Searching and cross-referencing plots |
| Bhu-Naksha | Digital cadastral map | Confirming plot boundaries and spatial location |
Khatauni vs. Khasra: The Khatauni tells you who owns the land. It lists the owner's name, their share in the holding, and any co-owners or encumbrances on record. The Khasra, by contrast, tells you about the land itself - its area (measured in bigha, biswa, or hectares), its official land use category (agricultural, residential, or barren), and which survey number it carries. You need both records together to complete a full title check.
Gata number: In Uttar Pradesh's land record system, every individual plot is assigned a Gata number - a unique numerical identifier used across government databases, revenue courts, and sub-registrar offices. When you search on the UP Bhulekh portal, the Gata number is the most reliable search input because it eliminates ambiguity caused by spelling variations in owner names or village names. In Aligarh, for example, two neighbouring plots in the same village may have owners with similar names; the Gata number precisely distinguishes them.
Bhu-Naksha: Bhu-Naksha is the geo-referenced digital cadastral map of Uttar Pradesh, accessible at a separate portal maintained by NIC. For any Aligarh plot, the Bhu-Naksha shows the plot's shape, dimensions, boundaries, and immediate neighbours. If a seller claims a plot measures 500 square metres but the Bhu-Naksha shows 420 square metres, you have grounds to renegotiate or withdraw before registration.
Practical example from Aligarh: Suppose you are purchasing agricultural land in Atrauli tehsil, Aligarh. You start with the Khatauni to confirm that the seller's name appears as the recorded owner. You check the Khasra to confirm the land is classified as agricultural and verify the exact area. You note the Gata number, then open Bhu-Naksha to confirm the plot's boundaries match what the seller is showing you on-site. This three-step check, using all four record types and completed entirely online before any site visit, is standard practice for property transactions in Aligarh.
During property registration at the sub-registrar office, revenue officials cross-reference the Gata number and Khatauni to confirm the seller's right to transfer. Missing or mismatched records at this stage can delay or block registration.