Karanam

Karanam (Telugu: కరణం) or Karnam was an office and title native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes. Karanam was one of the two village-level administrative posts that existed in Andhra along with 'Munasabu' (Munsiff). The Karanam kept an elaborate system of village accounts.

The position of Karanam was traditionally held by Niyogi Brahmins. In the Godavari districts, Kapus held the position as well, while in other regions, it was sometimes occupied by Golkonda Vyapari Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmins, and Karans. The title "Karanam" is comparable to "Kulkarni" in North Karnataka and Maharashtra and "Shanbhaug" in Karnataka.

In 1985, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao, abolished the hereditary Karanam system and replaced it with the Village Revenue Officer (VRO) post.

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