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Karanam 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 Brahmin. In the Godavari districts, Kapus held the position as well,Satish Kumar, Ch. (2014), Caste Mobilisation Processes and Political Power: A Study of Kapus in Andhra Pradesh, University of Hyderabad. pp. 10, 14, Chapter 5. 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.
In 1985, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao (NTR), abolished the hereditary offices of Karanam, Munasubu and instead replaced them with the Village Revenue Officer (VRO). The move was initiated in pursuance of the recommendations of the Unnitan Committee of 1964 and Narsimha Rao Committee. It was noted that NTR’s decision to abolish the Karanam system in revenue administration was one of the reasons for the OBC communities to rally behind his party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Samprati or Sthala Karanam, who was a counterpart of Karanam at higher level, was usually held by Deshastha Brahmins. The post of Sthala Karanam, who was the district revenue official was sometimes replaced by Deshpande. Deshpande post was usually held by Deshasthas and also sometimes by .
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