Documents required for caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC) — 2026 checklist

• Application form — State-specific (downloadable from state e-District portal)
• Father's caste certificate — Mandatory base proof; if father is deceased, grandfather's
• Self & family identity proof — Aadhaar + Voter ID + ration card
• Residence proof — Aadhaar / Electricity bill / Voter ID / property tax receipt
• Birth certificate — For DOB and parent identification
• Affidavit — Self-declaration of caste + lineage; on Rs. 10 stamp paper, notarised
• Two passport-size photos — White background, recent

• Migration certificate — For families that migrated from one state to another (caste certificate of state of origin)
• School TC + Class 10 marksheet — Mentioning caste — supplementary proof
• Mother's caste certificate — Some states require for cross-caste verification
• Adoption deed — For adopted children — to claim biological parent's caste in some states
• Tribal welfare officer's certificate — For ST in scheduled areas

• SC certificate — only for those listed in Constitutional SC Order for that state.
• ST certificate — only for those listed in Constitutional ST Order for that state. Some tribes are scheduled in some states only.
• OBC certificate has 2 types: Central (NCL/non-creamy-layer based on Rs. 8 lakh income) and State (state OBC list, separate income criteria).
• Validity — SC/ST permanent; OBC needs renewal every 1-3 years for non-creamy-layer recertification.
• Inter-state migration — original-state certificate not auto-valid in new state; need migration certificate or fresh application.
• Patwari / Patwari report — field verification by revenue official; mandatory for ST in scheduled areas.

Tehsildar / SDM office OR online via state e-District portal (e.g., e-District UP, MeeSeva AP, e-Sevana TN, etc.).

→ Official source: https://services.india.gov.in/service/detail/apply-online-for-caste-certificate-1

If your caste claim is rejected, file RTI for the rejection reasoning under §4(1)(d) + appeal to District Magistrate. Strict scrutiny per Madhuri Patil v. ADC Tribal (SC 1994).

→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.

• Q: I am from inter-caste marriage — what caste for my child? — Generally father's caste applies in India for legal purposes. But in some matriarchal communities (Khasi, Garo), mother's lineage prevails.
• Q: Validity period of caste certificate? — SC/ST: lifetime. OBC NCL: 1-3 years (state-specific).
• Q: Inter-state migration — do I need fresh certificate? — Yes — caste certificate is state-specific for SC/ST (Const. Articles 341/342). Apply at new state with migration certificate.
• Q: NRI of Indian SC/ST origin — can I claim caste benefit? — Yes for India-based services if Indian citizenship maintained; not for NRI-status applications.
• Q: My father's caste certificate is missing/lost — how to apply? — Apply for father's duplicate first OR submit grandfather's certificate + sworn affidavit.

1. Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
2. Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
3. Track status: see our status-check guides
4. If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
5. For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory

• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
• 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score draft win-likelihood
• ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
• 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window

• State-by-state: Caste Certificate across all 36 states
• If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide
• Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
• All documents checklists: All 30 checklists

• Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
• Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
• RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.