Caste Certificate

Official proof of your SC/ST/OBC/EWS caste

Information last verified: September 2026 · Always verify on the official portal before payment.

Real government fee

Nominal and varies(Rs. 0 to Rs. 50) — Delhi: nil; UP: ~Rs. 15; Odisha: ~Rs. 30. Check your state e-District portal.

How many days

15 to 45 working days.

Who can apply

Any citizen from a reserved category who needs it for education, jobs, or scholarships.

Best time to apply

Apply 2–3 months before you need it — ideally March–May, before admission and scholarship forms open. OBC students should get a fresh Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate after 1 April every year, because most forms ask for one issued in the current financial year.

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Documents you need

SC/ST: proof that your family lived in the state on the notified cut-off date — old land records (khatauni / 7/12 / jamabandi), or father's / grandfather's school records or old caste certificate (if any).
OBC Non-Creamy Layer: parents' income proof for the last 3 financial years (salary slips, Form 16 or ITR) and the non-creamy-layer affidavit in your state's format
If your family moved from another state: father's caste certificate issued by the origin state
Caste certificate of a close blood relative (father, uncle, brother) — the strongest single document for quick approval
Also have Applicant's Aadhaar, School leaving certificate mentioning caste, Ration card, Residence proof, Self-declaration on Rs. 10 stamp paper, Two passport photos with you.

Important warnings

• Do not claim wrong caste. It is a serious crime.
• Keep the certificate safe. Same certificate is used for many years.
• Never pay agents. Official fee is under Rs. 50.
• EWS is NOT a caste category. EWS needs a separate 'Income & Asset Certificate', only for people not covered by SC/ST/OBC reservation.
• Marriage does not change caste. A woman cannot claim SC/ST/OBC status through her husband's caste (Supreme Court, 2018).
• Admissions and jobs obtained with a false caste certificate are cancelled even years later, along with the benefits (Supreme Court, 2017).

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Step by step

1
Open your state's e-district portal - UP: edistrict.up.gov.in, Bihar: serviceonline.bihar.gov.in (RTPS), MP: mpedistrict.gov.in, Rajasthan: SSO / e-Mitra, Maharashtra: Aaple Sarkar, Karnataka: Nadakacheri, TN: TNeSevai, WB: castcertificatewb.gov.in, Odisha: edistrict.odisha.gov.in
2
Register with mobile OTP and login.
3
Choose 'Caste Certificate Application'.
4
Select caste category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS) exactly as in old family records.
5
For central jobs, NEET, JEE, UPSC, central universities - Choose 'Central Government format' OBC-NCL, state format is often rejected.
6
Fill personal details and family details carefully.
7
Upload documents - Photo, ID, Address, Caste Proof, Income proof for OBC/EWS (each file below 200 KB).
8
Pay the fee online and save the application number.
9
Tehsildar checks records and may call for physical verification.
10
Download the QR-coded signed certificate in 15-45 days and save to DigiLocker.
11
If not issued within RTPS time limit, file first appeal to SDM / Appellate Officer with application number.

jaati praman patra kaise banayecaste certificate kaise banaye

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a caste certificate and who issues it?

It is an official document proving that you belong to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Class listed for your state. It is issued by the revenue department — usually the Tehsildar, SDM or another officer named by the state. You need it for reserved seats in education and jobs, scholarships, fee concessions, and reserved seats in local elections.

Jaati praman patra online kaise banaye? / How to apply for a caste certificate online?

Open your state's e-District or service portal (for example edistrict.up.gov.in in UP, RTPS in Bihar, Aaple Sarkar in Maharashtra), register with your mobile OTP, choose 'Caste Certificate', fill in your family details, upload documents, pay the small fee (₹0–50) and note the application number. After the Tehsildar's verification, download the digitally signed certificate. You can also apply at a CSC / Jan Seva Kendra.

What is the difference between an OBC certificate and an OBC Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) certificate?

An OBC certificate only proves your caste. An OBC-NCL certificate also confirms your family is not in the 'creamy layer' — gross annual income below ₹8 lakh for three consecutive years, not counting salary and agricultural income for this test. Reservation in central jobs and admissions needs the NCL certificate in the Central Government format.

How long is a caste certificate valid?

An SC/ST or OBC caste certificate is normally valid for life, because caste does not change. The OBC Non-Creamy Layer part depends on income, so it is effectively valid for one financial year — most exams and recruitments ask for an NCL certificate issued after a date given in their notification.

Is EWS a caste certificate?

No. EWS (Economically Weaker Section) is a separate Income & Asset Certificate for people not covered by SC/ST/OBC reservation. Family income must be below ₹8 lakh, and the family must not own 5 acres of farmland or more, a flat of 1,000 sq ft or more, or a residential plot of 100 sq yards or more in notified municipalities (200 sq yards elsewhere). It is valid for one financial year.

Does a woman's caste change after marriage?

No. Caste is decided by birth. A woman born into a general-category family who marries an SC, ST or OBC man does not become eligible for reservation — the Supreme Court said so in Valsamma Paul (1996) and Sunita Singh (2018). She keeps her birth caste, and her own certificate stays valid after marriage.

What caste do children of an inter-caste marriage get?

Usually the father's caste. But the Supreme Court (Rameshbhai Naika, 2012) said this is not automatic: if a child of an SC/ST mother was raised as a member of her community and faced the same disadvantages, the child can apply for the mother's caste with proof of upbringing.

I moved to another state. Can I get a caste certificate there?

Your SC/ST status stays tied to your state of origin (Supreme Court, Marri Chandra Shekhar Rao, 1990). The state you live in can issue a certificate based on your father's certificate from the origin state, but it is valid for reservation in the origin state and in central government jobs — not for the new state's reserved seats.

Can Christians or Muslims get an SC certificate?

Under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950, only people who follow Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be Scheduled Caste. Scheduled Tribe status has no religion condition. Many Muslim and Christian communities appear in central or state OBC lists, so they can get an OBC certificate if their community is listed.

Is a caste certificate needed for NSP scholarships?

Yes. Post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students on the National Scholarship Portal ask for a valid caste certificate along with an income certificate. Apply for both together, as early as March–May, so you are ready before the scholarship window opens.

My caste certificate application was rejected or delayed. What should I do?

Read the rejection reason on the portal — usually a missing relative's certificate, an unclear residence proof, or a mismatch in names. Fix it and reapply. If it is simply delayed past your state's Right to Public Services deadline, file a first appeal with the SDM. Complaints of harassment can go to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (ncsc.nic.in) or for Scheduled Tribes (ncst.nic.in).

What is a caste validity certificate in Maharashtra?

In Maharashtra, a caste certificate must also be verified by the District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee for professional admissions, government jobs and elections. Apply on the new portal cvc.barti.in, submit the printout with documents to your district committee, and the decision usually comes within three months. Helpline: 1800-233-0444.