Tehsildar Job Profile: Revenue Powers, Mutation, Recruitment
16 Oct 2026
- Recruitment Process
- Career Growth
Quick answer
A Tehsildar heads the revenue administration of a tahsil — deciding mutations, correcting land records and recovering land revenue, and sitting as a revenue court. This profile explains the post from Uttar Pradesh's Revenue Code and the direct recruitment route from Haryana's 2026 civil services examination, which includes 'A' Class Tehsildar posts.
The Tehsildar is the officer most people meet when a land record has to change. If a family inherits a field or a plot is sold, the Tehsildar's order is what changes the record of rights. The post is a state government post, so its powers, pay and recruitment depend on the state. This profile describes the powers from one state's law, the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, 2006, and the recruitment from one state's examination, Haryana's. Read your own state's rules for its version.
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Where the Tehsildar Sits
A district is divided into tahsils, also spelt tehsils. Under section 14 of the UP Code, "The State Government may appoint in each district as many persons as it thinks fit to be Tahsildars and Tahsildar Judicial", who exercise the powers the State Government or the Board of Revenue directs, or failing that, the Collector. Below the Tahsildar are the Naib Tahsildars (section 15), and below them the Revenue Inspectors and the village Lekhpals, known as Patwaris in several states. Above are the Sub-Divisional Officer and the Collector.
The Tahsildar is both a "Revenue Officer" and a "Revenue Court" under the Code's definitions in section 4. The post is administrative and quasi-judicial at once.
What the Work Is
The UP Code gives the Tahsildar these functions, among others:
- Mutation. Under section 34, a person who obtains land by transfer must report it "to the Tahsildar of the Tahsil in which the land is situate". Under section 35, on receiving such a report, "the Tahsildar shall issue a proclamation and make such inquiry as appears to be necessary". If the case is not disputed, the Tahsildar directs the record of rights to be amended. If it is disputed, "he shall decide the dispute". Appeal against the order lies to the Sub-Divisional Officer "within a period of thirty days".
- Correcting records. Under section 32, the Sub-Divisional Officer, the Tahsildar or the Revenue Inspector records "all changes in the record of rights (Khatauni), the field book (Khasra) and the map". Under section 38, an application to correct an error in them "shall be made to the Tahsildar".
- Recovering land revenue. Under section 168, a statement of account "certified by the Tahsildar" is "conclusive evidence" of an arrear of land revenue. Under section 169, "a writ of demand may be issued by the Tahsildar against the defaulter".
The job combines running an office, deciding cases as a revenue court and supervising field staff. Deciding a disputed mutation is a judicial task, so the work needs a judicial temperament as well as administrative skill. Other states' laws give their Tehsildars similar but not identical powers.
Recruitment: Haryana as the Worked Example
States fill Tehsildar posts by direct recruitment, by promotion of Naib Tehsildars, or both, in proportions their service rules set. This profile does not give a promotion quota, because none was available in an official text for this guide.
Haryana shows the direct route. Its Public Service Commission's Advertisement No. 22/2026, for the HCS (Executive Branch) and other Allied Services, includes 'A' Class Tehsildar (Apprentice), 3 posts, and 'A' Class Naib Tehsildar (Apprentice), 5 posts. The advertisement says "The posts of HCS (Executive Branch) are of Group- A and rest of the posts of Allied Services are of Group- B", so both are Group B posts there.
| 'A' Class Tehsildar, HPSC Advt 22/2026 | |
|---|---|
| Qualification | "a degree of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Commerce or an equivalent degree of a recognised University" |
| Age | 18 to 42 on or before 1 January 2026, before relaxation |
| Stages | Preliminary (for screening only), main written examination, personality test |
| Preliminary | 26 April 2026 |
| Main | 27 to 29 June 2026 |
The Tehsildar post is part of the same examination as HCS (Executive Branch), Haryana's Group A service, and candidates submit a preference of services that is used in allocating posts. The SSC CGL vs State PSC guide explains the papers and marking of this examination in detail.
The advertisement does not state a pay level for the post.
Who Suits This Role
The Tehsildar's post suits a graduate who wants authority in their own state's administration, is comfortable deciding contested cases and being answerable for land records people depend on, and can manage field staff. It is a public-facing post. It suits less well someone who wants a quiet desk job, or a central career that moves between states. For how state recruitment works, see how state recruitment works and the State PSC guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Tehsildar do?
A Tehsildar heads a tahsil's revenue administration. Under Uttar Pradesh's Revenue Code, the Tehsildar orders mutations of land records after inquiry, decides disputed mutations, takes applications to correct the records, and certifies and recovers arrears of land revenue.
Is a Tehsildar a gazetted officer?
That depends on the state's rules. In Haryana's 2026 examination, the 'A' Class Tehsildar is one of the Allied Services posts, which the advertisement classifies as Group B.
How do you become a Tehsildar?
By direct recruitment through a state examination, by promotion from Naib Tehsildar, or both, depending on the state. In Haryana, 'A' Class Tehsildar (Apprentice) posts are filled through the HCS (Executive Branch) and Allied Services examination, which is open to graduates aged 18 to 42.
Who hears an appeal against a Tehsildar's mutation order?
In Uttar Pradesh, the Sub-Divisional Officer, within thirty days of the order, under section 35(2) of the Revenue Code.
What is the difference between a Tehsildar and a Naib Tehsildar?
The Naib Tehsildar is the rank below. Under the UP Code, both are revenue officers and revenue courts, with the powers the Code and other laws give each. Haryana recruits both directly through the same examination.
In Summary
A Tehsildar heads a tahsil's revenue administration, deciding mutations, correcting land records and recovering land revenue, and sitting as a revenue court. It is a state post. Uttar Pradesh's Revenue Code sets out the powers, and Haryana's 2026 civil services examination shows the direct recruitment route: a degree, age 18 to 42, a preliminary, a written main examination and a personality test. Each state's own law and rules decide the details.