Patta, Chitta, Adangal & A-Register: what's the difference?
Patta shows who owns the land, Chitta its classification, Adangal what's growing on it — and the A-Register is the 'mother record' behind them all. What each Tamil Nadu land record means, how they differ, and where to get each one online.
Most landowners stop at the Patta. But the A-Register often holds the details that actually decide what you can do with your land.
Patta / Chitta — who owns it now
The Patta and Chitta are the current records: they show ownership and the revenue details for a survey number. This is what most people ask for when buying or selling.
A-Register — the mother record
The A-Register (settlement register) is the original, detailed record for the village. It carries the soil type, the irrigation / water source, and the original survey numbers each plot came from. When records conflict, the A-Register is the one officials trust.
Adangal — what's happening on the land right now
The Adangal (village account) is the VAO's year-by-year register of what is actually happening on the land: the crop being cultivated, who is cultivating it, and tenancy details. So the records answer different questions — the Patta says who owns the land, the A-Register says what the land is, and the Adangal says what is being done on it this year. Banks and courts often ask for the Adangal alongside the Patta for agricultural land.
Patta vs Chitta vs Adangal vs A-Register at a glance
- Patta (பட்டா)
- Ownership — the government-issued record of who owns the survey number.
- Chitta (சிட்டா)
- Classification and tax — wet (nanjai) or dry (punjai) and revenue details. Now merged into the single online Patta-Chitta.
- Adangal (அடங்கல்)
- Cultivation — the yearly record of crops, cultivator and tenancy, maintained by the VAO.
- A-Register (அ-பதிவேடு)
- The permanent 'mother record' — original extent, soil classification, irrigation source and original survey numbers, kept at the taluk office.
Why it matters
The A-Register tells you the land classification — Nanjai (wet, irrigated), Punjai (dry) or Manavari (rain-fed). That classification can affect construction permissions and conversion, so it's worth checking before you buy or build.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Patta, Chitta and Adangal?+
The Patta is the ownership record for a survey number. The Chitta records its classification (wet or dry) and tax details — today both are merged into the single online Patta-Chitta. The Adangal is the VAO's yearly register of cultivation: which crop is grown, who cultivates the land and under what tenancy.
What is the A-Register in Tamil Nadu land records?+
The A-Register is the master settlement register kept at the taluk office — the 'mother record' for every survey number in a village. It shows the original extent, soil classification, irrigation source and the original survey numbers a plot came from. When records conflict, officials rely on the A-Register.
Is the A-Register the same as the Adangal?+
No. The A-Register is the permanent settlement record describing the land itself — extent, soil and water source. The Adangal is a yearly cultivation record describing what is happening on the land — crops, cultivator and tenancy.
Where can I get the A-Register extract online?+
On the Tamil Nadu e-Services portal at eservices.tn.gov.in: choose the A-Register extract option, select your district, taluk and village, and enter the survey and subdivision number. The Patta-Chitta for the same survey number is available on the same portal.