Quick answer. An income certificate (आय प्रमाण पत्र) is issued by your state revenue / district administration. Check status on your state e-District portal using the application (reference) number from your receipt. Most states run on the NIC ServicePlus platform — open Track Application Status in the citizen section and enter your number. An income certificate is usually valid for about one year, so check the validity date before you submit it anywhere.
If you are short on time: jump to How to check income certificate status. Use only your official state portal. No genuine government process needs a private agent's “approval fee”.
Quick summary (2026)
An income certificate states your family's annual income, certified by the revenue department. It is commonly required for:
The income limit that matters depends on the scheme you are applying for — for example, EWS and OBC Non-Creamy Layer use their own limits. The certificate itself simply records the assessed income.
| Item | Why it matters |
| Application / reference number | To track the specific application |
|---|---|
| Registered mobile number | For OTP verification on the portal |
| Income proof | Salary slip, ITR, or a self-declaration verified by the officer |
| Ration card / address proof | Used by the revenue official during verification |
| Aadhaar | For identity and e-KYC in most states |
| Status shown | What it usually means |
| Submitted / Pending | Application received, awaiting officer action. |
|---|---|
| Under Verification | Revenue official is checking income proof and records. |
| Forwarded / In Process | Moved to the approving officer (Tehsildar / SDM). |
| Approved / Digitally Signed | Certificate issued; download enabled. |
| Query / Sent Back | Document or detail missing — log in and respond. |
| Rejected | Turned down; reason shown. Re-apply or appeal. |
Most states issue an income certificate valid for about one year. If you are applying for EWS benefits, check the financial-year rule for that scheme — many EWS processes ask for a certificate of the relevant year, not just any valid one. When in doubt, get a fresh certificate before a deadline rather than risk rejection for an “expired” one.
Open your state portal and use its Track Application link. If unsure of the address, search your state name with “e-District”, or reach it from the National Government Services Portal.
| State / region | Common portal name |
| Bihar | RTPS — serviceonline.bihar.gov.in |
|---|---|
| Jharkhand | Jharsewa |
| Odisha | e-District Odisha |
| Kerala | e-District Kerala |
| Chhattisgarh | e-District Chhattisgarh |
| Assam | e-District Assam |
| Many other states | NIC ServicePlus — serviceonline.gov.in |
Confirm the current link from an official .gov.in source before entering details.
When the certificate is delayed beyond the service deadline, an RTI to the issuing office usually moves it.
In most states it is valid for about one year from the date of issue, though this varies by state and by the scheme you use it for. Always check the validity date on the certificate and the requirement of the scheme before you submit it.
It depends on the state. Many states fix a Right to Service deadline, often 7 to 21 days from a complete application. The portal usually shows the timeline. Beyond the deadline, file a Right to Service appeal, then an RTI.
Sometimes, but not always. EWS and many scholarships have their own financial-year rules. If a scheme asks for a current-year certificate, an older valid one may be rejected. When unsure, apply for a fresh certificate before the deadline.
Respond to any query on the portal, then visit the Tehsil office with your acknowledgement number. If it crosses the service deadline, file a Right to Service appeal and an RTI asking for the file status and the reason for delay.
Last reviewed: 2 June 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team. Always confirm your final status on the official state portal.