Pan-India Public Information & Verification Directory

Caste Certificate Online Apply & Verification Portal

Direct access to official state e-District portals, document checklists, Central Government formats for UPSC/SSC, and instant status tracking across all 28 States & 8 UTs.

Pan-India

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₹0 - ₹15

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Pan-India State Directory

Select Your State or Union Territory

Choose your state to get step-by-step application instructions, document checklists, official portal links, and status tracking.

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Assam

असम / অসম (Sewa Setu Assam)

Sewa Setu Assam
30 Working Days (Statutory under ARTPS Act)
Free (Citizen Portal) / ₹30 (at CSC / PFC Kiosks)
OBCSCSTEWSCertificates

Uttar Pradesh

उत्तर प्रदेश (e-District UP / eSathi)

e-District UP & eSathi Portal
15-20 Working Days (Statutory under UP Janhit Guarantee Act)
₹15 (eSathi Citizen Portal) / ₹30 (at CSC / Jan Seva Kendra)
OBCSCSTEWSCertificates

Bihar

बिहार (RTPS Bihar / ServicePlus)

RTPS Bihar & ServicePlus
10 Working Days (Statutory under Bihar RTPS Act)
Free (Citizen Portal) / ₹30 (at Block RTPS Counter)
EBC (BC-1)BC (BC-2)SCSTEWSCertificates

Jharkhand

झारखण्ड (JharSewa / झारसेवा)

JharSewa
15 to 30 Working Days (Statutory SLA under Jharkhand RTPS)
Free (Citizen Self-Apply) / ₹30 (at Pragya Kendra / CSC)
ST (अनुसूचित जनजाति)SC (अनुसूचित जाति)BC-I (अत्यंत पिछड़ा वर्ग)BC-II (पिछड़ा वर्ग)EWSCertificates
Standard Pan-India Process

Universal 4-Step Online Application Workflow

While every state operates its own revenue software (e-District, Sewa Setu, or ServicePlus), the statutory verification procedure follows these exact four stages across India.

01

Citizen Registration & SSO

Register on your state portal or national single sign-on (Meri Pehchaan / e-Pramaan) using your mobile number and Aadhaar OTP to create a verified citizen profile.

⏱️ Takes: 5–10 minutes
02

Form Entry & Doc Upload

Fill lineage details (father/mother name, sub-caste, tehsil, village/ward). Upload passport photo (< 20-50 KB) and supporting PDFs (< 100 KB) including the self-declaration affidavit.

📎 Requires photo resizer
03

Field Inquiry by Lekhpal/Patwari

Your electronic file is routed to your local Area Lekhpal (UP), Patwari/Talathi (MP/Maharashtra), or Lot Mondal (Assam) to verify land records and ancestral community status.

🏛️ Statutory: 7–15 days
04

Digital Signature & Download

The Competent Authority (Tehsildar or SDO) digitally signs the certificate using a cryptographic token. You receive an SMS alert to download your QR-verified PDF or sync with DigiLocker.

✅ QR Code verified
Essential Clarity for Students & Aspirants

State vs Central Caste Certificate Comparison

One of the most common reasons candidates lose reservation during document verification (DV) in UPSC, SSC, and NEET is presenting a state-format certificate instead of the mandated Central Government format.

Key FeatureState Caste CertificateCentral Caste Certificate (DoPT)
Applicable JurisdictionValid only within your home state.Valid nationwide across all Indian states and Union Territories.
Recruitment & AdmissionsState PSC exams, Police, State Universities, Gram Panchayat jobs.UPSC (IAS/IPS), SSC CGL/CHSL, Railways (RRB), NEET, IIT JEE, Central Universities.
Format & LanguageState regional language (Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, etc.).Strictly in English as prescribed by DoPT Office Memorandums.
Statutory QuotasDetermined by State Gazette (e.g. MOBC in Assam, OBC-A/B in West Bengal).Strictly Central list quotas: 27% OBC-NCL, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 10% EWS.
OBC Validity Period1 to 3 years depending on state revenue regulations.Strictly 1 Financial Year (must be issued after April 1 of the ongoing year).
Issuing AuthorityTehsildar / Taluk Revenue Officer / Circle Officer.SDO / SDM / District Magistrate (or Tehsildar as authorized by DoPT).
Pre-Application Checklist

Universal Documents Required for Caste Certificate

Collect these verified papers before logging into your state portal to ensure zero file rejection and instant field clearance.

1

Identity Proof (Pehchaan)

Any one government-issued photo ID card:

  • Aadhaar Card (Linked with active mobile)
  • Voter ID Card (EPIC)
  • PAN Card / Passport / Driving Licence
2

Address / Domicile Proof

Proof of continuous residence in the state:

  • Domicile Certificate (Niwas Praman Patra)
  • Ration Card / Parivar Register Nakal
  • Electricity / Water Utility Bill in father's name
3

Paternal Lineage Proof

Mandatory proof connecting you to father's caste:

  • Father's or sibling's verified caste certificate
  • Ancestral land records (Khatauni / Khatiyan / Jamabandi)
  • Pre-1950/1966 legacy records (if father lacks certificate)
4

Income Proof (OBC-NCL & EWS)

Financial eligibility verification:

  • Tehsildar-issued Income Certificate (< ₹8 Lakhs)
  • ITR Acknowledgement / Form 16 of parents
  • Salary slips of working parents
5

Self-Declaration Affidavit

Legal attestation of community and honesty:

  • Signed Swaprnamanit Ghoshna Patra
  • Affirmation of non-creamy layer criteria
  • Signed by applicant (or father if minor)
6

Photo & Scans Specifications

Digital upload parameters to avoid portal errors:

  • Passport Photo: Under 20KB (UP) or 50KB (Assam/Bihar)
  • Supporting PDFs: Strictly under 100KB each
  • Clean 100 DPI grayscale or color scan
Avoid Common Citizen Mistakes

Top 6 Reasons Caste Certificates Get Rejected (& Solutions)

Over 35% of online caste certificate applications face rejection or indefinite query flags at the Lekhpal/Circle Officer scrutiny stage. Here is how to keep your application bulletproof.

1. Submitting Mother's Caste Certificate

Mistake: Attaching mother's or husband's caste proof. Under Supreme Court law, caste is acquired by birth from the father.

💡 Fix: Always attach father's, paternal uncle's, or grandfather's caste documents.

2. Name & Spelling Inconsistencies

Mistake: Applicant or father's name spelled differently in Aadhaar vs Class 10th marksheet or land records.

💡 Fix: Upload a simple notary affidavit stating both name spellings refer to the same individual.

3. Gross vs Net Income Confusion (OBC)

Mistake: Calculating total family income exceeding ₹8 Lakhs by mistakenly adding agricultural income.

💡 Fix: Under DoPT circulars, income from pure agriculture and direct salaries is excluded from creamy layer.

4. Illegible or Blurry Land Records

Mistake: Uploading low-resolution phone photos of Khatiyan/Jamabandi where the Lekhpal cannot read the family tree.

💡 Fix: Use a flatbed scanner or our 100KB compressor to produce crisp 100 DPI black & white scans.

5. Uploading Files Over Size Limits

Mistake: Portals like eSathi reject photos over 20KB or freeze without showing clear error messages.

💡 Fix: Use our free client-side tool to resize your photo to exact 20KB/50KB with single click.

6. Unsigned Self-Declaration Form

Mistake: Uploading the blank downloaded PDF template without physically printing, signing, and scanning it.

💡 Fix: Print the form, fill all details by hand in blue ink, sign your signature, and upload the scan.

Understanding Reservation Categories in India

Ensure you apply under the exact category corresponding to state gazette notifications and central resolutions.

27% Quota

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)

For castes notified in state or central lists. Annual gross parental income must be under ₹8,00,000 (excluding agricultural and direct salary income).

Read Non-Creamy Layer Rules
15% Quota

SC (Scheduled Castes)

Scheduled Castes certificates carry lifetime validity. No economic creamy layer ceiling applies for SC category reservation in India.

Central SC Format
7.5% Quota

ST (Scheduled Tribes)

Applicable for indigenous tribal communities notified under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Orders. Lifetime validity.

Central ST Format
10% Quota

EWS (General Category)

For economically weaker citizens not covered under SC/ST/OBC. Family income must be under ₹8 Lakhs per annum plus residential asset limitations.

EWS Criteria Guide
Free Civic Utility

Portal Document & Photo Resizer (20 KB / 50 KB / 100 KB)

Government portal giving “File size exceeds 20KB or 100KB” error? Use our browser-only compression tool. No uploads, instant, and completely safe for your privacy.

Open Document Resizer Free
Legal Digital Verification

How to Download & Verify via DigiLocker App

Under Section 9A of the Information Technology Act (2000), electronic certificates pulled directly into the national DigiLocker app carry the exact same legal validity as physical stamped paper documents for all college admissions and competitive exams.

1. Link DigiLocker with Aadhaar

Sign in using Aadhaar OTP on the official DigiLocker mobile app or web portal.

2. Search State Revenue Dept

Search for your state (e.g. Revenue Department UP or ARTPS Assam) and select Caste Certificate.

Open DigiLocker Portal

Authorized Govt of India Repository

Public Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions on Caste Certificates

Verified answers to common legal and administrative queries regarding SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS applications in India.

Yes. Almost all Indian states and Union Territories (including UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, MP, Assam, Delhi, West Bengal, and Karnataka) provide online caste certificate issuance through their respective e-District, ServicePlus, or Sewa Setu portals.
A State Caste Certificate is issued in the regional language or Hindi and is valid only within your home state for state government recruitment and college admissions under state reservation quotas. A Central Caste Certificate (issued in English as per DoPT format) is mandatory for Central services like UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking, and central institutions like IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS.
No. Under settled Supreme Court jurisprudence (Valsamma Paul v. Cochin University), caste is determined strictly by birth and paternal bloodline. A woman cannot claim the reservation category of her husband upon marriage; she must always produce her father's caste proof and lineage records.
OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificates are valid for one financial year (April 1 to March 31) because eligibility depends on annual gross parental income remaining below ₹8,00,000. For central competitive exams (UPSC/SSC), the certificate must be issued after April 1 of the ongoing recruitment financial year.
No. Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates have lifetime validity across India. Unlike OBC-NCL and EWS, there is no economic creamy layer ceiling for SC and ST categories, so renewal is never required unless the certificate is physically damaged or issued under an outdated handwritten format.
Generally, you need: 1) Aadhaar Card or Identity proof, 2) Residence / Domicile proof (Ration card, Voter ID, or Land revenue receipt), 3) Passport size photograph (under 50KB), 4) Self-Declaration / Swaghoshna Patra, and 5) Ancestral proof or father's caste certificate (Khatiyan / Jamabandi / 1950/1966 land records).
Government fees are very nominal. On official citizen portals (like eSathi UP, Sewa Setu Assam, or ServicePlus Bihar), it is either completely FREE or costs between ₹15 to ₹30. Be cautious of fraudulent agents charging ₹500 to ₹1500.
Yes. Once approved by the Tehsildar or Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), most states push the digitally signed certificate to the national DigiLocker repository. You can search your state's Revenue Department in the DigiLocker app, enter your Application / Certificate number, and fetch an authentic digital copy legally valid under Rule 9A of the IT Rules.
If you or your ancestors migrated after the Presidential Order for Scheduled Castes/Tribes was notified (usually 1950 for SC/ST), you can only receive a 'Migration Caste Certificate'. You will be entitled to reservation benefits strictly in your state of origin, not under the domicile quota of the destination state.
Almost all state e-District portals feature a public 'Track Application' or 'आवेदन की स्थिति' box on their homepage. Simply enter your Application Reference Number (ARN / आवेदन संख्या) received on your acknowledgement slip to view the live processing stage.
Sahajul Haque - Founder & Researcher at CasteCertificate.in
Founder & Author

Sahajul Haque

Tezpur, AssamFollow on X

Hi, I am Sahajul Haque from Tezpur, Assam. I am an independent researcher, writer, and the creator of CasteCertificate.in. I study state e-governance portals, track official government guidelines, and document public service workflows. You can connect with me on X.

Disclaimer: castecertificate.in is an independent civic information portal and is NOT affiliated with any Government Ministry or Department. We do not issue certificates or charge government fees. All official services must be accessed directly via official state portals.

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