Short answer
Yes, for most resident Indians. In 2020 Karnataka removed Sections 79A and 79B of the Land Reforms Act, which had stopped non-farmers and people with high non-farm income from buying agricultural land. Landholding ceilings and some restricted land categories still apply, and NRIs and OCI card holders generally cannot buy agricultural land under central foreign-exchange rules.
Last checked 20 October 2026
What changed in 2020
- Before 2020, a person who was not an agriculturist, or whose non-farm income was above a limit, could not buy agricultural land in Karnataka.
- The Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) of 2020 deleted Sections 79A, 79B and 79C, so being a farmer is no longer a condition for buying.
- The ceiling on how much agricultural land one family can hold still applies.
- Some land, such as land granted by the government to specific groups, has its own rules on sale. A lawyer should check the land's history.
Who cannot buy
- NRIs and OCI card holders generally cannot buy agricultural land, farmhouses or plantation land in India under FEMA rules; they can inherit it.
- Companies and trusts may face separate conditions; take legal advice.
What to check before buying farmland
- The RTC (Pahani) for the exact survey and hissa number shows the seller as owner, with the right extent and no loans or disputes noted.
- Mutation records show how the seller got the land, and the encumbrance certificate shows registered sales and mortgages.
- The survey sketch (Phodi / Akarband) matches the land on the ground, including the access road.
- Whether the land is government-granted land (PTCL) or under any acquisition notice.
- If you plan to build or make plots, whether conversion is possible for that zone.
Questions people ask
- Can a salaried person buy agricultural land in Karnataka?
- Yes. Since the 2020 amendment there is no farmer or income condition for resident Indians, subject to the landholding ceiling.
- Can an NRI buy farmland in Karnataka?
- Generally no. NRIs and OCI card holders cannot buy agricultural land in India, though they can inherit it.
- Can I build a house on agricultural land?
- Not without permission. Building for non-farm use needs the land converted (DC conversion) or the use permitted for that zone.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rates and rules change; confirm on the official portal or with a lawyer before you pay.
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