Duplicate School Board Certificate After a Flood or Fire
Reviewed on: 2026-06-12.
A flood or fire that destroys your Class 10 or 12 certificate does not erase your result. The board that conducted your exam holds the permanent record. Lodge a loss report, swear a loss affidavit if your board asks for one, apply on the board's duplicate-certificate form with your old roll number and year, and use an RTI if the file stalls. A State or central board is a public authority, so RTI is a reliable fallback.
A worked example
Ramesh passed Class 12 from a State board in 2016, roll number 4471xxx. In July 2024 a flash flood in his town soaked a steel almirah and his original certificate and marksheet were ruined. His school had since merged with another.
Here is what he did, and what it cost him in time.
- Day 1, loss report. He reported the loss at the police station. Because it was a flood, not a theft, the police recorded a general diary entry and gave him a copy with a reference number, free of charge.
- Day 2, affidavit. His board's duplicate form asked for a notarised loss affidavit, so he swore a short statement before a notary describing how and when the certificate was destroyed. The notarial fee was small.
- Day 3, disaster proof. He collected a copy of the municipal flood-relief list that named his ward, to explain the loss.
- Day 4, school letter. The successor school confirmed his roll number and year from its registers on its letterhead.
- Day 5, application. He filled the board's duplicate-certificate form with his roll number, year and school code, attached the diary entry, affidavit, relief list, school letter and ID, paid the duplicate fee, and kept the receipt and application number.
- Week 4, RTI. When there was no movement, he filed an RTI asking the board to confirm his result from its records and state the status of his application. The reply confirmed his result and gave a dispatch date, and the duplicate arrived soon after.
The point of the example: the loss report, the affidavit and the application are the spine, and the RTI is the lever that moves a stalled file.
Loss report: FIR, general diary or affidavit
Boards want proof that the original is genuinely gone before issuing a duplicate. For a document destroyed in a flood or fire, the police usually record a general diary entry or a non-traceable report rather than a full FIR, which is meant for theft. Many boards also accept a notarised loss affidavit, a short sworn statement of how and when the original was lost. Some accept a simple self-declaration. Confirm your board's exact requirement before you spend on stamp paper or notarisation.
Documents and evidence
| Document | Why you need it | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Loss report (general diary entry, non-traceable report, or notarised affidavit) | Proves the original is genuinely gone | Police station; or a notary for the affidavit |
| Old roll number, year of passing, school name and code | The keys the board uses to find your permanent record | Memory, surviving papers, or the school register |
| School letter confirming roll number and year | Helps the board match your file quickly | Your old or successor school's office |
| Disaster-loss proof (flood-relief list, fire-brigade or municipal notice) | Explains why the original was destroyed | Local authority or relief camp, if recorded |
| Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, or other ID) | Confirms you are the person named on the record | Your own records |
| Any surviving photo or scan of the certificate | Speeds up matching even if the paper is gone | Phone, old emails, family copies |
| Board's duplicate-certificate form and fee proof | The official route to a fresh copy | Board office or its official website |
This is a duplicate, not a correction
Getting a fresh copy of the same record is a duplicate. Changing a name, date of birth or marks on the record is a correction, which follows a different process and proof. Do not mix the two on one form, or the file will be returned. If your board certificate has a wrong name or date of birth as well, fix that through the board's correction route first. For a wrong name or date of birth on an entrance scorecard that flows from the certificate, see name or DOB wrong on a scorecard.
Escalation ladder
- First level: the board's duplicate-certificate counter or portal. Submit the form with the loss report, affidavit and fee; keep the receipt.
- Second level: the board's grievance or helpdesk, quoting your application reference, when there is no movement past the stated time.
- RTI level: an RTI to the board's PIO to confirm your result and the application status.
- Appeal level: a first appeal to the First Appellate Authority, then the State or Central Information Commission, if the PIO does not reply in 30 days.
RTI to confirm your record and push issuance
To, The Public Information Officer, [Name of the school board], [Board office address] Subject: Information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 - confirmation of result record and status of duplicate-certificate application Sir / Madam, I request the following information held by your office: 1. Please confirm from your records the roll number, year of passing and result of the candidate named [full name], who appeared for the [Class 10 / Class 12] examination from [school name and code] in the year [year]. 2. Please provide the current status of my duplicate-certificate / duplicate-marksheet application, reference number [reference], filed on [date]. 3. Please state the steps and time still required to issue the duplicate. 4. Please provide the name and designation of the official dealing with my application. I lost my original in a [flood / fire] on or around [date]. A copy of the loss report is enclosed, with the prescribed fee in the manner your office accepts. Yours faithfully, [Full name] [Address, mobile, email] [Date]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the loss report, without which many boards will not start.
- Assuming every board is identical; the form, fee and timeline differ by board.
- Buying stamp paper before checking whether a simple declaration is accepted.
- Giving up because the school has closed; the board's register still holds your result.
- Mixing a correction request into a duplicate application.
Official links
For a State board, use that board's own official website for its duplicate form, fee and PIO details.
Related RTI Wiki guides
FAQs
Can I get a duplicate certificate if a flood or fire destroyed the original?
Yes. Boards issue duplicates when the original is lost or destroyed. Apply on the board's duplicate form with your roll number, year and school details, plus a loss report or affidavit. The process and fee vary by board.
Do I need an FIR, or will a general diary entry or affidavit do?
For a flood or fire, a general diary entry, a non-traceable report, or a notarised loss affidavit is usually accepted instead of a full FIR. Confirm your board's requirement first.
What is the affidavit and what should it say?
A short sworn statement before a notary giving your name, roll number, year, and how and when the original was destroyed. Some boards provide a fixed format; use that if available.
My old school has closed. Can I still apply?
Yes. The board's register holds your result independently of the school. The successor school or local education office can confirm your roll number, and an RTI can confirm the result directly from the board.
Does this work the same for CBSE, CISCE and State boards?
The steps are the same: loss report, identify your record, apply for a duplicate, use RTI if it stalls. But each board has its own form, fee and timeline, so confirm with the board that conducted your exam.
How long does a duplicate board certificate take?
Timelines vary by board and there is no single all-India deadline. An RTI reply is generally due in 30 days, which makes RTI a reliable way to confirm records and push a stalled file.
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