Adangal and A-Register: What These Village Records Tell a Land Buyer

The A-Register is the permanent village register that records each survey number’s classification, extent, assessment and patta details, while the Adangal is the village account of how land is actually used each year, including crops, irrigation and occupation. In Tamil Nadu, you can view an A-Register extract online on eservices.tn.gov.in, and the Adangal is maintained digitally as e-Adangal by the Village Administrative Officer (VAO). Together, they help a buyer confirm that land is what the seller says it is.

The A-Register: the land’s permanent profile

The A-Register is the permanent settlement register held for each village. It was created during survey and settlement, and is updated when subdivisions and patta changes are made. It is the reference officials use when other records conflict. For each survey number and subdivision, it typically records:

• Survey and subdivision number, and the old survey number where relevant
• Extent (area) and the land’s classification, for example nanjai (wet), punjai (dry) or manavari (rain-fed)
• Whether the land is ryotwari (private patta land) or government land such as poramboke
• Soil type, source of irrigation and the rate of land revenue assessment
• Patta number and the registered holder’s name
• A remarks column, which may carry important notes about conditions or special status

How to view the A-Register online

1. Go to eservices.tn.gov.in and choose “View A-Register Extract”.
2. Select rural or urban, then district, taluk and village.
3. Enter the survey number and subdivision number.
4. View or download the extract. Web-issued extracts carry a reference number that can be verified on the same portal.

The Adangal: how the land is really used

The Adangal, one of the village accounts kept by the VAO, is the running record of cultivation. Tamil Nadu ordered its digitisation in 2017, launched the e-Adangal web application in October 2018 and a mobile app in March 2019. It records season-wise crops, yields and irrigation sources, and generates monthly cultivation accounts, land classification details and encroachment records. Farmers can enter their own crop details with a photo and GPS location, and mismatches with the VAO’s entries go to higher officials for verification.

The Adangal is primarily an agricultural and revenue tool, not a public download in the way the A-Register extract is. You can request details from the VAO, and some farmer-facing services show crop entries for your own land.

Patta, chitta, A-Register and Adangal compared

For the ownership side of the picture, read our explainer on patta, chitta and EC.

Red flags to look for

In the A-Register

• Government or poramboke classification. If the survey number is shown as poramboke (for example a water body, pathway or grazing land), private sale is generally not valid. See poramboke land explained.
• Assigned land remarks. Notes indicating the land was assigned by the government, including to landless families or to Adi Dravidar beneficiaries, often carry restrictions on sale. See our guide to assigned land and Panchami land.
• Extent mismatch. If the A-Register extent is smaller than what the seller is offering, ask why.
• Old and new survey numbers. If the land was resurveyed, make sure the deeds trace correctly from the old number to the new one.

In the Adangal

• A different cultivator. If someone other than the seller has been recorded as cultivating for years, you may be buying into a tenancy claim or dispute.
• Encroachment notes. Entries showing encroachment on neighbouring government land are a warning sign.
• Classification that does not suit your plan. Wet land with an active irrigation source may face more scrutiny when you seek to convert it for building.

Why this matters around Coimbatore

Much of the land now sold as plots in areas such as Thondamuthur, Karamadai, Annur or Kinathukadavu was farmland until recently, and many villages have tanks, channels and pathways recorded as government land. Checking the A-Register for your survey number and its neighbours helps you avoid buying land that is actually classified as a tank bed or a cart track. For farm purchases, the Adangal adds a useful picture of what has really been grown there.

A quick buyer’s routine

1. Download the patta and the A-Register extract for the survey number.
2. Check the classification and remarks column carefully.
3. Ask the VAO about Adangal entries and any encroachment or dispute on record.
4. Match the extent with the FMB sketch and the sale deed.
5. Share everything with your advocate for a legal opinion.

Frequently asked questions

Can I view the A-Register online in Tamil Nadu?

Yes. The eServices portal (eservices.tn.gov.in) lets you view A-Register extracts for rural and urban lands and verify web-issued copies.

Is the Adangal the same as the patta?

No. The patta records the owner for revenue purposes, while the Adangal records cultivation and land use for each season.

Who maintains the Adangal?

The Village Administrative Officer maintains it, now digitally as e-Adangal, with inputs from farmers and department officials.

What should I do if the A-Register shows the land as poramboke?

Stop and take legal advice before paying anything. Poramboke land is government land, and a private seller generally cannot give you valid title to it.

This article is general information as of September 2026, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and rates change; confirm with a qualified advocate, chartered accountant or the relevant department before you act.

References

• Tamil Nadu eServices: View A-Register extract
• Commissionerate of Revenue Administration: e-Adangal
• Tamil Nadu eServices: About this portal