science

Indian units of measurement

Indian units of measurement is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Indian units of measurement rather than just read about it. In short: Before the introduction of the metric system, one may divide the history of Indian systems of measurement into three main periods: the pre-Akbar period, the period of the Akbar system, and the British colonial period. During the Indian pre ancient period, weights and measure systems varied from region to region, commodity to commodity, and rural to urban areas.

Key takeaways

Indian units of measurement belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Indian units of measurement to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Indian units of measurement from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Before the introduction of the metric system, one may divide the history of Indian systems of measurement into three main periods: the pre-Akbar period, the period of the Akbar system, and the British colonial period. During the Indian pre ancient period, weights and measure systems varied from region to region, commodity to commodity, and rural to urban areas. The weights were based on the weight of various seeds (in particular the wheat berry and Ratti) and lengths were based on the length of arms and width of fingers. During his reign, the Mughal emperor Akbar realized a need for a uniform system, and used the weight of the barley corn as a standard. This did not replace the existing system; rather, it simply added another system of measurement. When the British first began trading in India, they accepted barley corn as a unit for weighing gold. Eventually, the British introduced their own system for weighing gold. In 1956, the government of independent India passed the Standards of Weights Act, which would come into effect in 1958. The metric system was made mandatory for weights in October 1960, and for measures in April 1962.

Conversion In 1956, for metrication, the Indian government defined the Standards of Measurements Act (No. 89 of 1956, amended 1960, 1964) as follows:

The current definitions as per the UN are:

Ancient system These are the weights and measures popular in North India before the adoption of the metric system. There were different systems in Bengal, the Presidency of Madras, and Bombay. The following nomenclature was prevalent in North India until the metric system was established:

4 Chāwal (grain of rice) = 1 Dhan (weight of one wheat berry) 4 Dhan = 1 Ratti (seed of the 'Abrus precatorius' plant, called 'Surkh' by Abul Fazl in Ain-i-Akbari.). 8 Ratti = 1 Masha 3 Masha (24 Ratti/96 Dhan) = 1 Tak 4 Tak (12 Masha/96 Ratti) = 1 Bhari

Conversion 1 Bhari = 11.66375 gram 3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Bhari Weight of 64 Dhan (Wheat berries) = Weight of 45 Jau (Barley corns) Weight of 1 Barley corn = 64.79891 milligrams

Commodity weight system 1 Bhari = 4 Siki 1 Kancha = 5 Siki 1 Chhataank = 4 Kancha 1 Chhataank = 5 Bhari 1 Adh-pav = 2 Chhatank = 1/8 Seer 1 Pav = 2 Adh-pav = ¼ Seer (Pav means ¼) The unit pav is still used to this date however, it has been modified to "a fourth of a kilogram". 1 Adher = 2 Pav = ½ Seer In Hindi ½ Seer = Adha (½) Seer, or Adher 1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams 1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav (1¼ Seer) 1 Savaser weighed 100 Imperial rupees In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava (1¼) Seer, or Savaser 1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai (2½) Seer, or Dhaser 1 Paseri = 2 Adisari = 5 Seer In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch (5) Seer, or Paseri for short 1 Daseri = 2 Pasri = 10 Seer In Hindi 10 Seer = Das (10) Seer, or Daseri for short 1 Maund (maan or man[मण]) = 4 Daseri = 8 Pasri = 40 Seer

Rice and grains volume measures Grains were not weighed. Special hour-glass shaped measure were used to determine the volume. Smallest unit = 1 Nilve

2 Nilve = 1 Kolve 2 Kolve = 1 Chipte (about quarter litre) 2 Chipte = 1 Mapte (about half litre) 2 Mapte = 1 Ser (about one litre)

Liquid volume measures These were hour glass shaped measure used for Milk, Ghee, Oils. The bottom was round like an inverted dome, the top was like flared rim. This shape helped in pouring the liquids.

4 Chhataank = 1 Pav 4 Pav = 1 Seer 40 Seer = 1 Maund

Length measure Measure of length is Gaz. To interpret Gaz, depends on what one is measuring and where they are. Bengal: 36", Bombay: 27", Madras: 33", Government Average: 33". The hand measurements were used.

Anguli (width of 3 fingers) = 1 Girah 8 Girah = 1 Hath (elbow to the end of the middle finger, approximately 18" ) 5 5/6 Hath = One Kathi 20 Kathi = One Pand 1 Pand= 1 Beesa 20 Pand = One Begah 2 Hath = 1 Gaz 3 Gaz = Two Karam 3 Karams = 1 Kan 3 Square Kans = 1 Marla 20 Marlas = 1 Kanal 8 Kanals = 1 Ghamaon 9 Kanals 12 Marlas = 1 Acre 4 Kanals = 1 Begah

Medieval system

Akbar weights and measures Akbar standardised weights and measurements using a barley corn (Jau). For weights, he used the weight of a Jau, while the width of a Jau set the standard for length. 1. Length: Ilahi Gaz (33 to 34 inches or 840 to 860 millimetres); 1 Gaz = 16 Grehs; 1 Greh = 2 pais At the time of Shah Jahan there existed three different Gaz:

Shahi gaz = 101.6 cm Shahijahani or Lashkari = 95.85 cm Aleppo gaz = 67.73 cm Commodity weight: Ser = 637.74 grams Commodity Spices: The Dam was a copper coin used as a weight as well as currency. 1 Dam = 20 grams Gold and Expensive Spices: Misqal = 6.22 grams

Weights before 1833

8 rattīs = 1 māshā (= 0.907(2) gram) 12 māshās = 1 tolā (= 10.886227 gram) 80 tolas = 1 ser (= 870.89816 gram) 40 sers = 1 maund (= 34 kg 8 hg 3 dag 5g 9 dg 2.6 cg /34.835926 kilograms) 1 rattī = 1.75 grains (= 0.11339825 gram/113 milligrams 398 1/4 micrograms 4 attograms ) (1 grain = 0.064799 gram) From 1833 the rupee and tolā weight was fixed at 180 grains, i.e. 11.66382 grams. Hence the weight of 1 maund increased to 37.324224 kilogram. Traditionally one maund represented the weight unit for goods which could be carried over some distance by porters or pack animals.

British system

References 1 coss= 2000 yards

Notes

Sources Prinsep, James (editor Edward Thomas): Essays on Indian Antqities, Historic, Numismatic, and Palaeographic, of the late James Prinsep, F.R.S., to which are added his Useful Tables illustrative of Indian History, Chronology, Modern Coinages, Weights, Measures etc. Two Volumes, Reprint, Indological Book House, Delhi and Varanasi, 1971. Originally published in London, 1858.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Indian units of measurement

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Indian units of measurement claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Indian units of measurement before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Indian units of measurement ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Indian units of measurement

In research: Indian units of measurement appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Indian units of measurement in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Indian units of measurement is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Customary units in India, Economy of India, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Indian units of measurement outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Indian units of measurement in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Indian units of measurement means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Indian units of measurement out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Indian units of measurement in simple terms?

Why does Indian units of measurement matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Indian units of measurement?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Indian units of measurement.