Applying for a Caste Certificate in UP: Citizen eSathi Portal vs CSC
In Uttar Pradesh, citizens have two legitimate ways to apply for a Jati Praman Patra (जाति प्रमाण पत्र): either by creating an account on the citizen portal eSathi (esathi.up.gov.in) at a nominal statutory fee of ₹15, or by visiting an authorized village Jan Seva Kendra (CSC) where an operator files the application via edistrict.up.gov.in for ₹30.
Both methods submit the exact same digital file to the Revenue Department. However, applying on eSathi from home gives you total control: you receive SMS alerts directly, can track the Lekhpal inquiry report immediately, and download the digitally signed certificate directly to your phone without paying any middlemen or print charges.
Critical Step on eSathi: Hindi vs. English Certificate Selection
On the eSathi dashboard, you will see two separate options under the Revenue Department:
- जाति प्रमाण पत्र (हिंदी): This is the State Caste Certificate. Required for all UP state recruitments (UP Police, UPSSSC Lekhpal, VDO, UPPSC), UP state scholarships, and admissions to state universities and colleges.
- जाति प्रमाण पत्र (अंग्रेजी): This is the Central Government Format Certificate. Required for Central examinations (UPSC, SSC CGL/CHSL, Railways RRB, IBPS Bank PO), Central Universities (BHU, AMU, DU), and NEET All-India Quota.
💡 Tip: If you plan to appear for both UP state and Central exams, submit two separate applications on eSathi (one in Hindi, one in English). Both are processed by the same Tehsildar office.
Before You Log In: 3 Strict File Preparation Rules
The eSathi portal has extremely strict file upload thresholds. Violating these causes the system to return an obscure session error:
Must be in JPG or JPEG format. Dimensions must be passport size with a plain white or light background. If your photo is even 21 KB, the upload will fail. Use our client-side Image Compressor Tool to reduce it under 20 KB safely.
Download the prescribed declaration from eSathi, fill applicant name, father's name, age, residence, sign it at the bottom, scan it, and keep it under 100 KB (JPG/PDF).
Rural applicants must have the Parivar Register Nakal issued by the Gram Panchayat Adhikari (Secretary). Urban applicants can use the Ration Card or Nagar Nigam voter list copy.
Step-by-Step eSathi Application Walkthrough
Create an Account on eSathi UP (नवीन उपयोगकर्ता पंजीकरण)
Visit the official citizen portal at esathi.up.gov.in Citizen Login or click directly on नवीन उपयोगकर्ता पंजीकरण? (Direct Registration Link) .
- Create a login ID (6 to 8 alphanumeric characters, e.g.,
rajesh2026) and check availability. - Enter applicant full name, date of birth, gender, permanent address with PIN code.
- Select your home District (ज़िला) and enter your active mobile number.
- Submit the form. You will receive a temporary 6-digit OTP on your mobile. Use this to set your permanent password.
Navigate to Revenue Department Services
Log in with your User ID, Password, and the Captcha code. On your citizen dashboard, navigate to the "आवेदन प्रविष्ट करें" (Fill Application) dropdown menu.
Select "जाति प्रमाण पत्र" (Caste Certificate). If applying for Central format, select "जाति प्रमाण पत्र (अंग्रेजी)".
Rural (ग्रामीण) vs Urban (नगरीय) Classification
At the top of the form, choose whether your residence is ग्रामीण (Rural) or नगरीय (Urban). This controls which administrative hierarchy reviews your file:
Bilingual Entry: Enter the applicant name, father's name, and mother's name in both Hindi (using the in-page Google Hindi transliteration keyboard) and English.
Caste Category Selection: Choose your broad category: पिछड़ी जाति (OBC), अनुसूचित जाति (SC), or अनुसूचित जनजाति (ST). Then select your exact sub-caste (उप-जाति) from the official dropdown list.
Attaching Scanned Evidences (संलग्नक शीर्षक)
Under "संलग्नक शीर्षक" (Attachment Title), select each document one by one and click "अपलोड":
- फोटो (Photo): JPG format, size strictly less than 20 KB.
- स्वप्रमाणित घोषणा पत्र (Self Declaration): Mandatory signed document, under 100 KB.
- राशन कार्ड / परिवार रजिस्टर की नकल: Document proof of family entry, under 100 KB.
- अन्य (Other): Upload father's caste certificate or Gram Pradhan letter, specifying title as "पिता का जाति प्रमाण पत्र". Under 100 KB.
Online Payment of ₹15 & Receipt Generation
Click "दर्ज करें" (Submit). A preview screen will display your complete application along with an automatically generated Application Number (आवेदन संख्या) (e.g. 2617XXXXXXXXXXXX).
Click on "सेवा शुल्क भुगतान के लिए यहां क्लिक करें". Pay the statutory fee of ₹15 through the Rajkosh gateway via UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm), Netbanking, or Debit Card. Save the payment receipt and transaction ID.
Common UP eSathi Mistakes & Fixes
Error: "फ़ाइल का आकार 20 KB से अधिक नहीं होना चाहिए"
The eSathi server will block any photo over 20 KB. Do not use random online tools that distort proportions. Use our client-side image compressor set to 18 KB with 400x500 dimensions.
Error: Payment debited from bank but application shows "शुल्क लंबित" (Fee Pending)
Do not make a second payment. Navigate to your eSathi dashboard → click "सेवा शुल्क भुगतान" → enter your Application Number → click "सुरक्षित करें" (Re-query / Confirm). The portal will ping the treasury gateway and update your status to "Paid" immediately.
What if Lekhpal raises an inquiry or does not visit?
In UP, Lekhpals sit in the Tehsil office every Saturday (Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas) or at the local Panchayat Bhavan on designated weekdays. If your application status shows "आवेदन लेखपाल को अग्रसारित" for more than 7 days, you can contact the Lekhpal with your Application Number and show original family land records.
