Delhi's Circle-Rate System, Explained
Delhi grades every residential colony from A down to H. Here is what that means for your stamp duty, your sale and your valuation.
The eight categories
Delhi places each residential colony in one of eight bands. Category A is the highest and covers the most expensive colonies in the city. Category H is the lowest. Each band carries an official rate per square metre, and the gap between the top and the bottom is very large.
- A and B. The premium colonies.
- C and D. Established middle and upper middle areas, including much of the planned development authority housing.
- E. Denser, more affordable colonies.
- F, G and H. The lowest rated areas, including many colonies that were regularised over the years.
Find your own colony's category free
The rate for each category
These are the official land rates per square metre. They cover the land only. For a built house or flat, the construction cost is worked out separately and added on top.
| Category | Per square metre | Per square foot (approx) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Rs 7,74,000 | Rs 71,907 |
| B | Rs 2,45,520 | Rs 22,810 |
| C | Rs 1,59,840 | Rs 14,850 |
| D | Rs 1,27,680 | Rs 11,862 |
| E | Rs 70,080 | Rs 6,511 |
| F | Rs 56,640 | Rs 5,262 |
| G | Rs 46,200 | Rs 4,292 |
| H | Rs 23,280 | Rs 2,163 |
Residential land rates, notified on 20 September 2014 and still the rates in force. A revision has been under review since 2025, but no new notification has been issued.
What the category actually controls
- Stamp duty. Charged on the higher of the category value or your actual price.
- The floor for registration. You cannot register below it.
- Evidence in a valuation. It is not the answer on its own, but it anchors the report.
The revision that is being discussed
Delhi has been reviewing these rates. Proposals have included a significant increase and the addition of a new band above the current top category. As things stand nothing final has been notified.
This is precisely why we check the current position for your colony when we prepare a report, rather than working from a figure that may have moved. Any site quoting fixed rates without a date should be treated with caution, including this one.
Why your colony might seem wrongly categorised
It happens. Categories were set at particular times and areas develop at different speeds. A colony that has improved a great deal may still sit in a lower band, and one that has declined may sit higher than it deserves.
You cannot change the category yourself. What you can do is make sure your valuation reflects reality by using actual sale evidence alongside the notified rate.
Questions people ask us
- My neighbour's colony is category B and mine is C. Why?
Categories were assigned colony by colony at particular points in time and they do not always track how areas have developed since. It affects stamp duty but it does not stop your property being valued at what it is genuinely worth.
- Does a higher category mean my property is worth more?
Generally the bands do follow value, but the category is a government classification, not a valuation. Two properties in the same band can be worth very different amounts.
- Do commercial properties use the same categories?
Commercial property is treated separately, and value there follows the rent it earns much more closely. More here.
Checked by Parish Rao, Chartered Engineer and Government Approved Valuer (Registration number CAT-I/443/117/2000-01).
Page last checked on 7 October 2026.