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Identity & Civil Registration#023

Understanding Caste Certificate (SC / ST / OBC-NCL / EWS)

Obtain a caste certificate to access reservations in jobs, education, and government schemes.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

State-specific (issued by state Revenue Department / District administration; recognised nationally for central government schemes)

Who applies

Indian citizens belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), or Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) seeking a caste/category certificate

Typical time

7–30 days (varies by state and category; most states target 7–15 working days through e-District portals)

Fee

Free (no fee in most states for SC/ST/OBC caste certificates). Some states charge a nominal fee of ₹10–₹50. EWS certificate may involve stamp duty of ₹10–₹20.

Who should use this process

  • ✓SC: Applicant must belong to a caste notified as Scheduled Caste in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 for the specific state; SC status follows the father's caste in most states (children of inter-caste marriages follow specific rules)
  • ✓ST: Applicant must belong to a tribe notified as Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for the specific state and must be ordinarily resident in that state
  • ✓OBC-NCL: Applicant must belong to a caste listed in the Central or State OBC list and must not fall in the Creamy Layer (annual family income above ₹8 lakh per year as per central norms; state norms may differ)
  • ✓EWS: Applicant must belong to the general (unreserved) category and have a gross annual family income below ₹8 lakh; family must not own more than 5 acres of agricultural land, a house exceeding 1,000 sq ft in a notified municipality, or residential plot of 100–200 sq yards in notified municipality

Who does NOT need to apply

  • ✕A person already holding SC/ST/OBC status in another state cannot claim the same for a different state without satisfying that state's notified caste list
  • ✕OBC Creamy Layer applicants are excluded from OBC-NCL certification and reservations in central government jobs and education
  • ✕EWS certificate is not available to SC, ST, or OBC applicants (those categories have their own reservations)

Documents required

#DocumentType neededPurpose
1Caste proof of father / grandfather — any one: Father's caste certificate, school certificate showing caste, revenue/village records, Aadhaar with caste, community certificate from Gram Panchayat or Village OfficerSelf-attested CopyPrimary evidence establishing hereditary caste/tribe of the applicant through paternal lineage
2Residence proof — any one: Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Ration card, utility billSelf-attested CopyEstablishes that the applicant is ordinarily resident in the state where the certificate is sought
3Identity proof of applicant — Aadhaar card / Voter ID / PassportSelf-attested CopyEstablishes applicant's identity and date of birth
4Income proof of family (for OBC-NCL and EWS) — Income Tax Returns (last 3 years), Form 16, salary slips, or self-declaration with employer certificate(optional)Mandatory for OBC-NCL and EWS; not required for SC/STSelf-attested CopyFor OBC-NCL: proves non-Creamy Layer status. For EWS: establishes income below ₹8 lakh threshold.
5Property / land records (for EWS) — any one: Khasra/Khatauni, municipal property tax receipt(optional)Required only for EWS certificateSelf-attested CopyEstablishes that family does not own agricultural land exceeding 5 acres or residential property above prescribed limits
6Prescribed application form (self-declaration / affidavit)Download / PrintState-prescribed form with self-declaration affirming caste, income, and residential status

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

  1. 1

    Visit the state e-District portal or Tehsildar / SDM office

    Both

    Log in to your state's e-District portal (e.g., edistrict.up.gov.in, edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in, Tamil Nadu's TNeGA portal). Select the relevant certificate type (Caste Certificate — SC/ST/OBC/EWS). Alternatively, collect the application form from the Tehsildar / Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office in person.

    https://services.india.gov.in
  2. 2

    Fill the application form and attach documents

    Both

    Complete the prescribed form with accurate details of caste, address, and family income (for OBC/EWS). Upload or attach self-attested copies of all required documents. For online applications, upload legible scanned copies (PDF/JPEG). Pay any applicable fee via online payment.

    Tehsildar Office / SDM Office staff
  3. 3

    Application sent to Revenue Inspector / Patwari for field verification

    Offline

    The Tehsildar forwards the application to the Revenue Inspector or Patwari of the applicant's village/ward. The field officer visits or contacts the applicant to verify residence, caste antecedents from village revenue records, and income status (for OBC/EWS). This is the most time-sensitive step.

    3–15 working daysRevenue Inspector / Patwari / Ward Officer
  4. 4

    Tehsildar / SDM reviews the verification report and approves

    Offline

    Based on the field verification report and supporting documents, the Tehsildar (for SC/ST/OBC) or SDM (for EWS and some states' SC/ST) approves or rejects the application. If documents are insufficient, a notice is issued asking for additional information.

    Tehsildar / Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
  5. 5

    Track application status

    Online

    Use the application reference number on the state e-District portal or SMS status updates to track the progress. If the application is pending beyond the state's prescribed timeline (usually 7–15 working days), escalate via the portal's grievance mechanism or visit the Tehsildar office.

    https://services.india.gov.in
  6. 6

    Download or collect the Caste Certificate

    Both

    Once approved, download the digitally signed certificate from the e-District portal (where available) or collect the physical certificate with the official stamp and signature from the Tehsildar / SDM office. The certificate typically specifies the caste, sub-caste, the constitutional order under which it is notified, and state of residence.

    Same day after approval

Government officers involved

Tehsildar

State Revenue Department (District Collectorate)

Steps 2–4 and 6

Competent authority for issuing SC, ST, and OBC-NCL caste certificates in most states; reviews field verification and signs the certificate

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)

State Revenue Department / District Magistrate Office

Steps 2–4 and 6

Competent authority for issuing EWS certificate and, in some states, SC/ST certificates; presides over appeals

Revenue Inspector / Patwari

State Revenue Department

Step 3

Conducts field enquiry, verifies caste antecedents from village records, and submits verification report to Tehsildar

Government portals

Things to watch out for

Caste certificate is state-specific — does not transfer across states

A caste certificate issued by State A is not automatically valid for reservations in State B. If you relocate, you must apply fresh in the new state with evidence of caste from your home state. For central government jobs/education, the home state certificate is generally accepted.

OBC-NCL certificate has a validity period — usually 1–3 years

OBC-NCL certificates typically have a validity of 1–3 years because Creamy Layer income limits are reassessed. UPSC, SSC, and state PSCs require a fresh OBC-NCL certificate within the financial year of application. Never submit an expired certificate.

Creamy Layer exclusion is based on family income, not individual income

For OBC-NCL, the income threshold (₹8 lakh per annum at central level) applies to the combined income of both parents, not the applicant's own income. Salary plus agricultural income plus income from business and other sources are all counted. Do not omit any income source in the self-declaration.

False caste certificate is a criminal offence

Obtaining a caste certificate by suppressing income, misrepresenting caste, or forging documents is a criminal offence under IPC and can lead to dismissal from government service, cancellation of admission, and imprisonment. Scrutiny Committees actively verify SC/ST certificates in high-stakes cases.

SC certificate does not apply to converts to Christianity or Islam in most states

The Presidential Order of 1950 restricts SC status to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists only. Persons who have converted to Christianity or Islam cannot claim SC status and are therefore not eligible for an SC caste certificate.