Property & Approvals
A Khata, B Khata and eKhata in Bangalore: A Homeowner’s Guide
If you are buying a plot, purchasing a home or planning construction in Bangalore, you will hear three terms repeatedly: A Khata, B Khata and eKhata. They are connected, but they do not mean the same thing.
The short answer: A and B describe the municipal record category commonly used for a property. eKhata describes an electronic property record. Getting an eKhata does not, by itself, turn a B-category property into an A-category property.
Published 12 October 2026. General homeowner guidance, not a legal opinion on any individual property. Procedures and eligibility can change; confirm current requirements with the authority responsible for your property.
What is a khata?
A khata is a municipal property account used for identification and property-tax assessment. It records details such as the recorded holder, property identification and assessment information.
A khata is not a substitute for a title investigation, a registered conveyance, an approved layout or a sanctioned building plan. Paying property tax does not, on its own, establish ownership or regularise a building. Before buying or building, check these documents separately with a qualified property lawyer and the relevant authority.
A Khata vs B Khata vs eKhata: at a glance
| Question | A Khata | B Khata | eKhata |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does it describe? | The regular municipal khata category, commonly associated with properties accepted into the regular assessment register. | A separate B-register tax entry, commonly associated with missing approvals or compliance issues. | The electronic form of the municipal property record, rather than a new approval category. |
| What should you verify? | The actual record, title chain, land-use permissions and all applicable layout and building approvals. | Why the property is in the B register, the underlying defects and any currently available eligibility route. | Whether the record is draft or final, the recorded category and whether the details match your documents. |
| Does it prove clear ownership? | Not by itself. | Not by itself. | Not by itself. |
| Does it permit construction automatically? | No. A separate plan sanction and applicable permissions are still needed. | Do not assume eligibility; obtain property-specific confirmation before committing to construction. | No. Digitisation does not replace building permission. |
| Does it convert B to A? | Not applicable. | Conversion, where permitted, is a separate eligibility and approval process. | No automatic conversion just because a digital record is issued. |
What does A Khata mean for a homeowner?
A Khata is commonly used to describe a property entered in the regular municipal assessment register. It is an important document to examine during a purchase or a construction feasibility review, but the label should never end your due diligence.
Check the recorded owner's name, property number, dimensions and address against the registered documents. Where applicable, independently verify land conversion, layout approval, sanctioned plans and occupancy documentation. A mismatch or missing permission needs clarification even when the seller describes the property as “A Khata”.
What is B Khata, and why does it need care?
“B Khata” is the commonly used term for a property recorded in the separate B register for taxation. Missing approvals, land-use issues or building deviations may be involved, but the reason must be established for the particular property.
The practical question is not simply whether the owner has paid tax. It is what remains unresolved and whether the competent authority can legally approve the intended use or construction.
Before paying a deposit, obtain an independent legal review. Ask for the record itself, the reason for the B entry and written clarification of any proposed conversion route. Do not rely on a seller's promise of guaranteed conversion, a fixed processing time or an unverified fee. Loan acceptance also depends on the lender and its legal review; no khata label guarantees finance.
What is eKhata?
An eKhata is an electronic municipal property record. The official e-Aasthi portal explains that draft eKhatas are based on the existing property-tax register and that citizens must provide additional information to obtain a final eKhata. 1
That distinction matters: a downloadable draft is not the same as a final issued record. Review the holder's details, property identity, dimensions and recorded category, and use the official services to verify the record rather than relying on a forwarded PDF.
The portal specifically asks for documents to prove A-Khata status. This is another reason not to treat the electronic format alone as proof of an A-category property. 1
Documents to prepare for a final eKhata
The official portal lists the following additional information for the final-eKhata process: 1
- Registered deed.
- Aadhaar-based eKYC.
- SAS property-tax application number.
- Property photograph.
- Documents proving A-Khata status, where applicable.
- Encumbrance Certificate when an immediate sale or transfer is planned, as stated by the portal.
This is a preparation checklist, not a universal guarantee of approval. Joint ownership, inheritance, missing records, corrections or other property-specific circumstances may require additional documents. Submit identity information only through the official service or an authorised process, not an unsolicited message or agent's private link.
How to approach the online process
- Confirm jurisdiction. Identify the municipal authority and ward responsible for the property. Bangalore-area properties do not all necessarily use the same service; check your current tax record and the relevant authority.
- Find the existing record. Use the official e-Aasthi services and your property-tax information. The official property-tax portal is a useful starting point for existing tax details.
- Inspect the draft. Compare names, identifiers and property details with the registered deed and supporting records.
- Follow the current final-eKhata instructions. Complete the required verification and uploads shown on the official service. Do not assume a downloaded draft completes the process.
- Resolve discrepancies. Use the portal's objection or correction guidance and contact the responsible revenue officer where needed.
- Verify the issued record. Retain the final record, application reference and official receipts, and check the details again before using it in a transaction.
The government's e-Aasthi services also provide municipal khata download and verification-related navigation. 2
Before you buy a plot or start construction
Keep these checks separate rather than treating “khata available” as a single clearance:
- Title: registered documents, ownership chain, encumbrances and any disputes or restrictions.
- Land and layout: applicable conversion, land use, approved layout, access and planning constraints.
- Municipal record: authentic khata, tax record and matching property identifiers.
- Building permission: sanction for the actual proposed building, including applicable setbacks, height and floor-area rules.
- Existing building: compare approved plans with what has been built, and verify completion or occupancy requirements where applicable.
For a JP Nagar plot, a renovation in Jayanagar or a new home elsewhere in Bangalore, the principle is the same: check the specific property before finalising the design or construction budget. A document checklist cannot replace an on-property feasibility review and independent legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is eKhata the same as A Khata?
No. Electronic format and municipal category are different things. Read the category and supporting approvals; do not infer A status from the word “eKhata”.
Does paying property tax make a B-Khata property fully approved?
No. Tax payment does not by itself resolve title defects, missing approvals or building deviations.
Can every B-Khata property be converted to A Khata?
Do not assume so. Eligibility depends on the property's facts and the currently applicable law and authority process. Obtain written, property-specific guidance; this article does not promise conversion or quote an unverified charge.
Can I start construction once I have a final eKhata?
Not on that basis alone. Confirm title, land use and layout requirements, then obtain the applicable building sanction and other necessary permissions.
Should I rely on a draft eKhata for a purchase?
Treat it as a record to verify, not the conclusion of your checks. Confirm the final-record requirements for your transaction with the responsible authority and registration office, alongside independent title due diligence.
Planning to build in Bangalore?
Kumud Innovator provides architecture and structural services, approvals coordination and residential and commercial construction across Bangalore, prioritising South Bangalore.
Discuss your project with our team or email info@kumudinnovator.com to discuss your documents and construction plans. Authority decisions and legal eligibility remain with the competent authorities; no approval or khata conversion is guaranteed.
Official sources and current guidance
- 1 — Karnataka e-Aasthi: draft and final eKhata instructions.
- 2 — Karnataka e-Aasthi: municipal khata download and service navigation.
- Bangalore property-tax portal.
Consult the latest official instructions before applying. This article intentionally does not quote fees, processing deadlines, universal registration rules or automatic conversion schemes that have not been confirmed for your property.