CasteCertificate.in
Official Government Platform: Nadakacheri (AJSK, Revenue Department, Govt of Karnataka)

Karnataka Caste Certificate Online Apply, Status & Download Guide

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ (Nadakacheri / Seva Sindhu) — Official Portal Guide for Scheduled Caste (SC - 17% Form D), Scheduled Tribe (ST - 7% Form D), Category 1 (Cat-1 - 4% Form E, Exempt from Creamy Layer), Category 2A (Cat-2A - 15% Form F), Category 2B (Cat-2B - 4% Form F), Category 3A (Cat-3A - 4% Form F), Category 3B (Cat-3B - 5% Form F)

Delivery Guarantee

15 to 21 Working Days

Govt Portal Fee

₹25 (Online Portal)

Issuing Authority

Tahsildar

Direct Official Links for Karnataka:

Apply Online (Nadakacheri) Track Live Status Documents Checklist
Official Citizen Helpline: 1902 (Sakala Toll-Free Helpline) / 080-22214552 / [email protected]

Dedicated Detailed Guides for Karnataka:

How to Apply Online

Screen-by-screen guide: citizen login, category selection, and submitting without common errors.

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Track Application Status

Track your 14-digit RD Number on nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in. Monitor VAO spot inquiry and Tahsildar DSC approval.

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Download Certificate PDF

Download the digitally signed PDF with official QR verification. Works everywhere without an ink seal.

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Documents Required

Checklist of Kutumba Family ID, Bhoomi RTC Pahani, School TC, Vanshavali, Form D/E/F, and photo specifications.

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Official Karnataka Revenue Department & Nadakacheri Framework (2026)

In Karnataka, digital Caste Certificates (ಜಾತಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಪತ್ರ) and Caste-cum-Income Certificates are issued under the statutory authority of the Tahsildar (ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್) or Deputy Tahsildar (ಉಪ ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್) via the Nadakacheri (AJSK - Atalji Janasnehi Kendra) portal (nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in) and Seva Sindhu. Every approved certificate generates a universal 14-digit RD Number (e.g. RD0038576421458), which links with Kutumba ID, Bhoomi RTC Pahani, and KEA KCET/NEET seat allotment databases without physical verification.

1

Karnataka Caste Reservation Architecture: Form D, Form E & Form F

Unlike northern states that issue generic certificates, Karnataka enforces a statutory tripartite classification established under Government Order No. SWD 225 BCA 2000 and the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.) Act:

Form DSC / ST

Scheduled Castes (17%) & Scheduled Tribes (7%)

Issued exclusively to constitutional SC and ST communities. Zero income ceiling applies to caste status, and the certificate carries permanent lifetime validity throughout Karnataka and across Central Government quotas.

Form ECategory-1

Category-1 (Cat-1, 4% Reservation)

Notified nomadic, semi-nomadic, and most backward communities (such as Golla, Uppara, Besta, Koli). Form E is statutorily exempt from Creamy Layer income criteria. Once issued, Form E holds permanent lifetime validity.

Form FCat-2A / 2B / 3A / 3B

Caste-cum-Income (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B - 28%)

Combined certificate certifying sub-caste and non-creamy layer annual family income under ₹8 Lakh. Under G.O. SWD 225 BCA 2000, Form F has a statutory validity of 5 years from the date of Tahsildar approval.

2

The Universal 14-Digit RD Number: Paperless Admissions & Recruitment

Karnataka’s revenue administration pioneered full paperless integration through the 14-digit RD Number (Revenue Department Number, e.g. RD0038123456789). This number acts as a permanent cryptographic token across state and central digital portals:

AKEA CET & NEET State Counseling Direct Sync

During Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) registration for engineering, architecture, and medical seats, candidates do not upload PDF certificates. Entering the 14-digit RD number automatically fetches applicant name, sub-caste code, category reservation, and annual family income directly from the Nadakacheri server in real time.

BState Scholarship Portal (SSP) & e-Pass Integration

Post-matric scholarships administered by the Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare, and Backward Classes Welfare departments authenticate family income and caste eligibility directly through the RD Number linked with the applicant's Kutumba ID.

CKPSC & Karnataka Police Department Verification

State public recruitment platforms verify horizontal and vertical reservations (including rural quota and Kannada medium reservation) by querying the Nadakacheri master database without scheduling physical document verification rounds.

3

Revenue Field Hierarchy: VAO, Revenue Inspector & Tahsildar

The processing of a Karnataka caste application follows a strict legal chain of verification across taluk revenue officers:

1
Online Submission at Nadakacheri / Grama One: Applicant submits personal data, uploads documents, and pays the ₹25 portal fee. The Nadakacheri system generates the 14-digit RD Number and assigns the application to the concerned Hobli.
2
Village Administrative Officer (VAO / Village Accountant - ಗ್ರಾಮ ಲೆಕ್ಕಿಗ): The VAO conducts physical spot inquiry, inspects the family's ancestral land records on the Bhoomi portal (RTC / Pahani), checks school admission registers, and prepares the field verification mahazar.
3
Revenue Inspector (RI - ಕಂದಾಯ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಕರು): The RI reviews the VAO's enquiry report, verifies community notifications, checks whether non-creamy layer criteria are satisfied for Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B, and submits recommendations to the Taluk Office.
4
Tahsildar / Deputy Tahsildar (ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್): As statutory Competent Authority, the Tahsildar executes final sanction and affixes a verifiable Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) with QR code.
4

Karnataka Sakala Guarantee of Services Act, 2011 & SLA Enforcement

Under the landmark Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act (Sakala Act, 2011), citizens have a legally enforceable right to receive caste certificates within stipulated deadlines:

Statutory Service Delivery Timeline

The statutory SLA for Form D (SC/ST), Form E (Cat-1), and Form F (Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B) is 15 to 21 working days. If delayed without a written reason, daily default penalties apply to the delinquent revenue officer.

Sakala 1902 Escalation & First Appellate Authority

If an application remains pending beyond 21 working days, citizens can call 1902 (Sakala Toll-Free Helpline) quoting their 14-digit RD Number or file a statutory first appeal before the Assistant Commissioner (Sub-Divisional Magistrate).

5

Karnataka Rules for Married Women: Strict Biological Paternal Lineage

Legal Doctrine: Valsamma Paul v. Cochin University

In Karnataka, caste identity is determined exclusively by biological birth. A woman cannot claim her husband's caste under any circumstance:

  • General woman marrying SC/ST/OBC: Retains her general status and cannot obtain a reserved category certificate.
  • SC/ST/OBC woman marrying General: Retains her constitutional caste reservation rights, but must submit her biological father's school TC, land records (Pahani), and ancestral RD Number.
  • Jurisdiction: The application must be filed under the Hobli and Taluk where her biological parents permanently reside, not her matrimonial home.

Apply Online

Step-by-step Nadakacheri portal procedure & ₹25 fee payment

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Track Status

Check 14-digit RD Number verification & VAO inquiry

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Download PDF

Get digitally signed certificate with 2D barcode

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Required Documents

Kutumba ID, School TC, Bhoomi RTC & Vanshavali checklist

Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions for Karnataka

In Karnataka, the Revenue Department issues three distinct certificate formats based on constitutional reservation classes: Form D is issued strictly to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) with permanent lifetime validity and zero income limit. Form E is issued to Category-1 (Cat-1) communities (nomadic and extremely backward classes), which is also exempt from Creamy Layer income ceilings and holds permanent validity. Form F is a combined Caste-cum-Income Certificate issued to Category-2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B communities; it certifies both sub-caste lineage and non-creamy layer annual family income under ₹8 Lakh, with a statutory validity of 5 years under Karnataka Government Order No. SWD 225 BCA 2000.
The RD Number (Revenue Department Number) is a unique 14-digit alphanumeric code (e.g., RD0038576421458) assigned to every application processed on the Nadakacheri portal. It serves as universal digital proof of your caste status across Karnataka. During state competitive admissions like KCET (Karnataka Examination Authority), NEET UG/PG state counseling, Post-Matric e-Pass scholarships, and KPSC recruitment, candidates are only required to enter their RD Number for instant automated electronic verification without submitting physical paper copies.
Caste certificates issued to SC, ST (Form D), and Category-1 (Form E) applicants possess permanent lifetime validity throughout the state of Karnataka and do not require renewal. For Category-2A, Category-2B, Category-3A, and Category-3B (Form F), the social caste category is permanent, but the income Non-Creamy Layer component is valid for exactly 5 years from the date of issue under Karnataka Government Order SWD 225 BCA 2000. After 5 years, applicants must apply for a renewal certificate with updated family income.
The Tahsildar (ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್) or Deputy Tahsildar (ಉಪ ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್) of the administrative Taluk Revenue Office having geographical jurisdiction over the applicant's permanent residence is the statutory Competent Authority. The preliminary field inquiry and genealogical verification are conducted by the Village Administrative Officer (VAO / Village Accountant - ಗ್ರಾಮ ಲೆಕ್ಕಿಗ) and endorsed by the Revenue Inspector (RI - ಕಂದಾಯ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಕರು) before the Tahsildar signs the certificate electronically.
No. Pursuant to the Supreme Court constitutional doctrine in Valsamma Paul v. Cochin University and Karnataka Revenue Department circulars, caste status is acquired strictly by biological birth from the father. A woman born into a general or forward category cannot claim reservation benefits upon marrying a reserved category spouse. Married women must apply using their biological father's name, paternal residence records, father's school TC or Bhoomi RTC, and the jurisdiction of their father's native Taluk in Karnataka.
Under the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act (Sakala Act, 2011), caste certificates must be delivered within 15 to 21 working days. If your application exceeds this statutory SLA without a valid query, you can call the Sakala 24x7 Helpline at 1902 with your GSC or RD Number to lodge a formal grievance, or file an appeal before the Assistant Commissioner (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) for immediate departmental review.
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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.

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