Indian units of measurement
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 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 as follows:| Indian System | Metric System |
| 1 Tola | 11.6638038 g |
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 = 1 Dhan
- 4 Dhan = 1 Ratti.
- 8 Ratti = 1 Masha
- 3 Masha = 1 Tak
- 4 Tak = 1 Bhari
Conversion
- 1 Bhari = 11.66375 gram
- 3.75 Troy ounce = 10 Bhari
- Weight of 64 Dhan = Weight of 45 Jau
- 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
- 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 Seer, or Adher
- 1 Ser = 2 Adher = 4 Pav = 16 Chattank = 80 Tola = 933.1 grams
- 1 Savaser = 1 Ser + 1 Pav
- 1 Savaser weighed 100 Imperial rupees
- In Hindi 1¼ Seer = Sava Seer, or Savaser
- 1 Dhaser = 2 Savaser = 2½ Seer
- In Hindi 2½ Seer = Dhai Seer, or Dhaser
- 1 Paseri = 2 Adisari = 5 Seer
- In Hindi 5 Seer = Panch Seer, or Paseri for short
- 1 Daseri = 2 Pasri = 10 Seer
- In Hindi 10 Seer = Das Seer, or Daseri for short
- 1 Maund = 4 Daseri = 8 Pasri = 40 Seer
Rice and grains volume measures
Smallest unit = 1 Nilve
- 2 Nilve = 1 Kolve
- 2 Kolve = 1 Chipte
- 2 Chipte = 1 Mapte
- 2 Mapte = 1 Ser
Liquid volume measures
- 4 Chhataank = 1 Pav
- 4 Pav = 1 Seer
- 40 Seer = 1 Maund
Length measure
- Anguli = 1 Girah
- 8 Girah = 1 Hath
- 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. For weights, he used the weight of a Jau, while the width of a Jau set the standard for length.1. Length: Ilahi Gaz ; 1 Gaz = 16 Grehs; 1 Greh = 2 pais
At the time of Shah Jahan there existed three different Gaz:
| Indian System | Metric System |
| Shahi gaz | 101.6 cm |
| Shahijahani/Lashkari | 95.85 cm |
| Aleppo gaz | 67.73 cm |
- 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
- 12 māshās = 1 tolā
- 80 tolas = 1 ser
- 40 sers = 1 maund
- 1 rattī = 1.75 grains