Registration is the act of recording your purchase deed at the sub-registry office - it transfers ownership to you and is what most buyers celebrate. Mutation (namjari) is the quieter second step: updating the government land record so that the khatian shows your name, letting you pay land development tax as the recognised owner.
Skipping mutation is where future problems grow. Without it, the old owner's name stays in the record, which complicates resale, inheritance and even utility transfers years later. The process runs through the local land office and now largely online: application, hearing, and the updated khatian with a DCR receipt.
Budget for both steps from day one. Registration costs are calculated on the deed value; mutation fees are modest by comparison but the paperwork must match perfectly - name spellings, plot numbers, and the chain of previous deeds. When you buy from a developer, ask who handles mutation support and get that answer written into your agreement. It is a small clause that saves months.