What it is
Nanjai is one of the two basic land-classification terms used across Tamil Nadu's revenue records, alongside punjai. It denotes land assessed as wet — land with an assured or seasonal irrigation source, traditionally for paddy cultivation, though other crops can be grown on it too. The classification appears in the adangal, the A-register, and on the patta-chitta itself, next to the survey number and subdivision. It's a record of how the land is assessed for revenue purposes, not a description of what's growing there at any given moment.
Why it matters when you buy
The nanjai or punjai tag can affect how land is valued, taxed, and in some cases what conversion permissions are needed if you want to use agricultural land for a non-agricultural purpose. Wet land is often priced differently from dry land in the same village, and its irrigation source — a canal, tank, or well — is worth confirming independently rather than assuming it from the classification alone. If you're buying agricultural land and plan any construction, check with the local revenue authorities on the applicable rules before you commit.