What is a Bigha? State-by-State Values in India
Bigha is a traditional unit of land measurement used across India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Unlike the standardized Hectare, the value of Bigha varies significantly from one state to another.
Why Does Bigha Vary by State?
Bigha is a local, traditional unit that was never standardized nationally. Each region developed its own definition based on local agricultural practices, historical conventions, and the needs of landowners and farmers in that area.
Bigha Values in Major Indian States
- Uttar Pradesh: 1 Hectare = 6.177 Bigha
- Bihar: 1 Hectare = 3.9537 Bigha
- Rajasthan: 1 Hectare = 4.84 Bigha
- Madhya Pradesh: 1 Hectare = 4.84 Bigha
- West Bengal: 1 Hectare = 1.495 Bigha
- Punjab: 1 Hectare = 4.0 Bigha
- Haryana: 1 Hectare = 4.0 Bigha
- Assam: 1 Hectare = 3.09 Bigha
Subunits of Bigha
Depending on the region, Bigha is further divided into subunits like:
- Katha: Common in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal (20 Katha = 1 Bigha)
- Biswa: Used in UP, Rajasthan (20 Biswa = 1 Bigha)
- Kanal: Used in Punjab, Haryana (8 Kanal = 1 Bigha)
- Marla: Used in Punjab, Haryana (20 Marla = 1 Bigha)
FAQ
Which state has the largest Bigha?
West Bengal has one of the largest Bigha values, where 1 Bigha is significantly larger than in North Indian states.
Is Bigha used officially in India?
Bigha is still widely used in rural India for land transactions, but officially the metric system (Hectare, Square Meter) is the standard for legal documentation.