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Official Application Walkthrough

How to Apply Online for Karnataka Caste Certificate (Nadakacheri Portal)

Complete 2026 step-by-step walkthrough for filing Form D (SC/ST), Form E (Cat-1), and Form F (Cat-2A/2B/3A/3B) Caste Certificate on the official Karnataka Nadakacheri portal (nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in).

Open Nadakacheri Portal (nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in) Review Documents Checklist

Statutory SLA

15 to 21 Working Days (Statutory under Karnataka Sakala Services Act, 2011)

Official Portal Fee

₹25 (Online Portal)

Competent Authority

Tahsildar

Official Nadakacheri / AJSK Application Walkthrough (2026)

In Karnataka, all caste certificates (Form D, Form E, Form F) are filed online through the Nadakacheri (Atalji Janasnehi Kendra - AJSK) portal (nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in) or via Seva Sindhu / Grama One centres. Follow this comprehensive step-by-step walkthrough to submit your application without administrative queries.

1

Access Nadakacheri Portal & Log In via Mobile OTP

Open your browser and visit the official portal at nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in/ajsk/:

  • On the top navigation bar, click on "Online Application" and select "Apply Online".
  • Enter your active 10-digit mobile number.
  • Click "Get OTP" and input the 6-digit one-time password received on your phone.
  • Click "Login" to enter the citizen service dashboard. No complex registration or password creation is required.
2

Select the Applicable Statutory Certificate: Form D, Form E, or Form F

From the left sidebar menu, click on "Caste Certificate" and select the exact statutory category:

Caste Certificate (Form D):Select this for Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST). Zero income ceiling applies.
Caste Certificate (Form E):Select this for Category-1 (Cat-1) notified backward communities. Exempt from creamy layer restrictions.
Caste & Income Certificate (Form F):Select this for Category-2A, Category-2B, Category-3A, or Category-3B. Annual family income must be under ₹8 Lakh.
3

Select Taluk & Hobli Jurisdiction, Enter Details in English and Kannada

The portal will prompt you to define your ancestral revenue location:

  • Select Administrative Units: District, Taluk, Hobli, and Village / Ward where the applicant's family permanently resides.
  • Applicant Details: Enter applicant name and father's name in English. The portal automatically transliterates names into Kannada script. Review the Kannada spelling carefully to ensure it matches land or school records.
  • Caste and Sub-Caste Selection: Pick your exact community from the state notified schedule dropdown.
  • Aadhaar e-KYC: Enter the applicant's 12-digit Aadhaar number for demographic validation.
4

Enter Kutumba Family ID & Bhoomi RTC Pahani Particulars

Karnataka's automated verification system relies on statewide databases:

  • Kutumba ID Integration: If you enter your 8-digit Kutumba ID (or Ration Card number), the portal fetches family member names and income declarations automatically.
  • Bhoomi Land Records (Pahani / RTC): If your family owns agricultural land, enter the survey number, hissa number, and village to pull land ownership records directly from bhoomi.karnataka.gov.in.
  • Annual Family Income (for Form F): Declare total gross annual household income from salary, business, and agriculture (must be below ₹8 Lakh for non-creamy layer reservation).
5

Upload Enclosures, Pay ₹25 Fee & Generate 14-Digit RD Number

Attach the mandatory scanned documents following file size guidelines:

  • Photograph: Color passport photo in JPG format under 50 KB.
  • Identity & Address Proof: Aadhaar card, Ration Card, or Voter ID in PDF format under 200 KB.
  • Caste Proof: School Cumulative Record, Transfer Certificate (TC), or father's prior caste certificate with RD number.
  • Online Fee Payment: Pay the statutory fee of ₹25 using UPI, Debit Card, or Net Banking.
  • Instant Acknowledgement: Once payment succeeds, note down your unique 14-digit RD Number (e.g. RD0038576421458). You will also receive an SMS confirmation.
6

Field Inquiry by Village Administrative Officer (VAO) & Tahsildar Sanction

Following submission, the application routes automatically through the revenue machinery:

  • The Village Administrative Officer (VAO / Village Accountant - ಗ್ರಾಮ ಲೆಕ್ಕಿಗ) receives your file on their field dashboard. If ancestral certificates exist in the family, spot inquiry may be waived or conducted via phone/records.
  • The Revenue Inspector (RI - ಕಂದಾಯ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಕರು) validates the VAO report against notified community rules.
  • The Tahsildar / Deputy Tahsildar (ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್) grants electronic sanction and signs the PDF with a verifiable Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
  • Under the Karnataka Sakala Services Act, 2011, this process must conclude within 15 to 21 working days.
Offline Kiosk Alternative: Grama One & Bangalore One Centres

If you do not have access to an online payment gateway or scanner, visit any nearest Grama One (in rural taluks), Bangalore One / Karnataka One (in urban corporations), or the Atalji Janasnehi Kendra (Nadakacheri) counter at your local Taluk Office. Kiosk operators will scan your physical documents and submit the application for a fixed statutory charge of ₹40.

Frequently Asked Questions: Applying for Karnataka Caste Certificate

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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