The Two Types of Bigha
In North India — particularly UP, Rajasthan, MP, and Bihar — Bigha comes in two forms: Pucca (official/standard) and Kacha (traditional/local). The difference can be significant in land area and consequently in price.
Pucca Bigha
The standardized Bigha used in official government records: 1 Pucca Bigha = 27,225 square feet (or 2,529.29 sq m). This is the measurement you'll find in Khatauni records and sale deeds post-2000.
Kacha Bigha
Kacha Bigha varies by district and can range from 1,200 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft depending on local convention. In some Bihar districts, Kacha Bigha = 20 Katha = 14,400 sq ft. In some UP villages, Kacha Bigha = 20 Biswa but calculated with a smaller Biswa.
How Sellers Exploit the Difference
An unscrupulous seller may quote "2 Bigha" meaning Kacha (28,800 sq ft) when you assume Pucca (54,450 sq ft). Always ask: "Pucca ya Kacha Bigha?" and insist on the square footage in the agreement.
District Reference Table
- Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi: Pucca Bigha = 27,225 sq ft
- Patna, Gaya (Bihar): local Bigha = 27,220 sq ft
- Jaipur, Jodhpur: Pucca Bigha = 27,225 sq ft