Land Measurement (Bigha, Acre) — Set 10

Correct Answer: A. Voluntary land donation by wealthy landowners to landless farmers

The Bhoodan movement was started by Vinoba Bhave in 1951 with the goal of persuading wealthy landowners to voluntarily donate a portion of their land for redistribution to landless farmers. The word Bhoodan literally means land gift. The movement was based on Gandhian values of non-violence and voluntary sacrifice. Though millions of acres were donated, effective distribution remained a challenge in many areas.

Correct Answer: A. Geographic Information System for spatial mapping of land

GIS stands for Geographic Information System, which is a computer-based system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data. In land administration, GIS is used to create digital maps of land parcels, link them with attribute data, and enable spatial analysis. GIS helps in detecting encroachments, planning land use, and maintaining up-to-date digital maps of land records.

Correct Answer: A. A daily diary maintained by the Patwari recording all village events

Roznamcha Waqiati is the daily diary maintained by the Patwari in which all events related to land and revenue in the village are recorded. It includes entries about mutations applied for, crop inspections done, boundary disputes reported, and any other revenue-related matters. The Roznamcha Waqiati serves as a daily log of the Patwari's activities and is checked by the Kanungo during inspections.

Correct Answer: A. About 8,712 square feet

In Himachal Pradesh, one Bigha equals approximately 8,712 square feet or about 0.2 acres. This makes it smaller than the Bigha used in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Bigha in Himachal Pradesh is divided into 20 Biswas. Local land transactions in the mountain districts use Bigha and Kanal as the primary measurement units.

Correct Answer: A. A register recording village customs and rights relating to land use

Wajibul Arz is a record of local customs and rights observed in a village regarding land use, common resources, and related matters. It documents the customary rights of villagers over common land, forests, water bodies, and roads. The Wajibul Arz was traditionally prepared during revenue settlements. It has legal standing in disputes about customary rights in villages.

Correct Answer: A. A land tract between two rivers known for fertility

Doab literally means land between two rivers (Do means two, Ab means water) in Persian or Hindi. The most famous is the Ganga-Yamuna Doab between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh. Doab regions are known for their highly fertile alluvial soil and good irrigation potential. The revenue assessment in Doab regions historically assumed higher productivity due to the fertile soil and canal irrigation.

Correct Answer: A. A correction document issued to rectify errors in land records

Shuddhi Patra is a formal document issued by revenue authorities to rectify errors in land records like incorrect area, wrong name, or erroneous classification. When an error in Khasra, Khatauni, or other records is discovered, the aggrieved party can apply for a Shuddhi Patra. The Revenue Inspector or Tehsildar verifies the error and issues the correction. It ensures the accuracy and reliability of revenue records.

Correct Answer: A. Land formed by alluvial deposits in river beds

Char or Diara land in Bihar refers to land formed by alluvial deposits in the beds or banks of rivers, especially the Ganga and its tributaries. Such land is highly fertile but unstable as rivers can reclaim it during floods. Char lands are a source of disputes between farmers due to their temporary nature. Special provisions exist in Bihar revenue laws for the management of Char and Diara lands.

Correct Answer: A. A joint ownership record for land held by multiple co-sharers

Sanjha Khata (Joint Account) in land records refers to a Khata that records land jointly owned by two or more co-sharers. The names of all co-owners, their respective shares, and the total area are mentioned in the Sanjha Khata. Each co-sharer can claim their proportionate share for partition if needed. The Patwari maintains Sanjha Khata entries as part of the Khatauni.

Correct Answer: A. A revenue village unit equivalent to a mahal

Mauza is the local term for revenue village used in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It corresponds to the village unit that forms the basic building block of revenue administration. Each Mauza has its own set of land records, Khasra numbers, and boundaries. The Mauza is administered by a village-level revenue official. In urban areas, Mouza boundaries are used to identify land parcels.