Daily
Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC) in India — application, documents, validity
Caste certificates are issued by state revenue departments and are essential for reservation in education and government jobs. Here is the complete process.
6 May 2026 · 2 min read
Quick frame: A caste certificate proves your category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) and is mandatory to claim reservation in central/state government jobs, IIT/NIT/AIIMS seats, scholarships, and many state schemes. It is issued by the revenue department of your state — typically the SDM, tehsildar, or revenue inspector.
Documents required
- Application form (state portal)
- Aadhaar card
- Ration card / domicile proof
- Father's caste certificate (if available — speeds up verification)
- School leaving certificate (caste mentioned in TC/SLC)
- Birth certificate
- Affidavit by parent on stamp paper
- Two photos
- For OBC: non-creamy-layer affidavit + ITR / Form 16 of last 3 years (parents' income must be < ₹8 lakh non-creamy layer)
Use the Caste Certificate Info Tool — state-wise portals, fee, and processing time.
State portals
| State | Portal |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in |
| Karnataka | nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in |
| Tamil Nadu | tnesevai.tn.gov.in |
| Delhi | edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in |
| UP | esaathi.up.gov.in |
| West Bengal | castecertificatewb.gov.in |
Fee and processing
₹0 to ₹50, processing 21-45 days (longer than income certificate because of caste verification — patwari/talathi visits home, school records cross-checked).
Validity
- SC/ST: lifetime (no need to renew)
- OBC: lifetime, but non-creamy-layer certificate for OBC must be renewed annually for use in jobs/admissions
- EWS: usually annual
Migration certificate gotcha
If you migrate from one state to another, your original-state caste certificate may not auto-apply for state reservation in your new state. Central reservations (IIT, UPSC) accept any state's certificate. State-specific reservations (state PSC, state engineering) often require the certificate from that state.
FAQ
Q: Lost caste certificate — can I get a duplicate? A: Yes. File a duplicate request with the issuing tehsil; they reissue from records.
Q: Father's caste vs mother's caste — which counts? A: Father's caste in most states. If father is SC/ST, child is SC/ST automatically. Mixed-caste cases follow father's lineage by default.
Q: Inter-caste marriage — do my children get reservation? A: If father is SC/ST/OBC and the child is raised in that culture, yes. Multiple court rulings (Rameshbhai Naika 2012, etc.) clarify this.