A community certificate demonstrates a person’s membership in a certain community. People from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Castes (OBC) are granted special privileges under the reservation law, including a reservation of seats in important government positions like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), railway exams, bank exams, and jobs, among others.
Additionally, they have a lower cut-off for applicants to colleges like Delhi University, IIT, and IIMs as well as for competitive examinations like JEE Mains, NEET, and other similar tests.
Specific communities are given access to these possibilities in order to improve their economic and social standing. The castes and groups included in this list are published annually by the Indian government. Different castes and cultures, however, have varying degrees of mark relaxation.
OBC community certificate
OBC is a group of castes that are seen as being low on the social and economic scale. They do not, however, have the same concessions as the SC and ST castes. Every government employment and university has a 27% reservation for members of the OBC category. Additionally, their cutoff is higher than SC and ST but lower than the general class.
For OBC, there are two different forms of community certificates:
Creamy layer OBC: This group of OBCs does not require government assistance, hence they are not qualified for any government-sponsored programmes for employment or education. This group includes those whose household income exceeds INR 8 Lakh (as per the statute of 2017). A creamy layer OBC certificate is equivalent to a standard certificate in quality.
Non-creamy layer OBC: This group falls under the umbrella of OBC and is thus eligible for all government-sponsored programmes for employment or education. This group includes those whose household income, as of 2017, is less than INR 8 Lakh. Non-creamy layer OBCs are eligible for any reservations in India that are available to their community.
SC and ST community certificate
The communities at the bottom of society are known as Scheduled Castes, typically from ancestral occupations like labourers, scavengers, etc. The reservations given to SC are still open to current generations even though they don’t perform the same responsibilities.
In India, the communities that go by the name “Adivasis” are known as Scheduled Tribes. They include farmers having little contact with anyone outside of their town. Under British administration, they endured terrible suffering, were labelled “criminals,” or had their estates taken away. In order for them to flourish, the government grants them these reservations. There are no requirements for a community certificate for Schedule Castes and Scheduled Castes, unlike an OBC certificate.
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Community certificate: What is the community certificate for?
As stated earlier, caste certificates primarily help members of restricted groups, such as scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, get the following benefits:
- In order to get legislative seat reservations
- Getting the government service reservation
- For removing the entrance fees for institutions or colleges
- In order to fulfil quotas at educational institutes
- Several banks and government positions reserve seats for students in the reserved category.
- To get government subsidies, receive government-sponsored scholarships, or apply for certain government-sponsored programmes
Community certificate: Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for the community certificate, you must meet the requirements listed below. The same eligibility requirements are shown below.
- An SC/ ST/ OBC family lineage.
- Indian nationality.
- Age requirement for a temporary community certificate is 3 years or older.
- Intermediate’s eligibility for a lifetime community certificate.
- When requesting a community certificate, some paperwork is required. These often define your Indian citizenship, your family’s membership in the community, and your academic achievement.
Community certificate: Required documents for SC/ST certificate
- If an Aadhaar number is not accessible, it gives identity documentation such as a PAN, passport, driving licence, or voter card.
- A copy of the father’s, sister’s, or brother’s, or another blood relative from the paternal side’s SC/ST certificate.
- In the event of an SC/ST certificate issued outside of Delhi at the required performa rate, self-declaration is required (If the children are below 18 years, a self-declaration from the major has to be produced).
- For married women, a marriage licence.
- Currently valid residence identification such as a voter’s card, a water or electricity bill, a phone bill, etc.
- Proof of birth date (bonafide certificate or birth certificate or passport).
Community certificate: Required documents for OBC certificate
- If available, a copy of the OBC certificate for the applicant’s father, brother, sister, or other blood family on the paternal side, confirming the applicant’s caste and their continuous residence in Delhi since 1993, along with two attestations from MPs, MLAs, council members, and newspaper officers.
- Residential permit.
- Family income documentation (pay stubs, Form 16s, ITRs, etc.)
Community certificate: Process duration
It might take up to 15 days to prepare for a community certificate after you’ve applied. Your permanent address will get a post with your community certificate. Not all states provide you an online community certificate even if you have submitted an online application.
Community certificate offline application
Step 1: To apply for a community certificate using the offline option, the applicant must go to the centre’s SDM/DC Office.
Step 2: Submit an application for the community certificate using the format specified. Complete the caste application form accurately and in accordance with the caste category. For the SC/ST OBC category, separate application forms are provided. Fill out the application form with the following information.
- Name, gender, date of birth, marital status, and religion
- Acquiring a caste certificate for
- Details about your caste or tribe
- Details about parents and spouse
- Contact information
Step 3: Give the officer all further supporting documentation.
Step 4: Obtain an acknowledgement receipt with the specific application number in this step. Store it safely for future use.
Step 5: After submitting your application for a community certificate, you may also see where it stands.
Step 6: To confirm the applicant’s place of residence or caste, a local enquiry will be made. In the case of married women, both their pre- and post-marital residences would be the subject of a municipal investigation.
Step 7: Following the conclusion of a local investigation and authorisation of the caste certificate request, the SDM/DC will issue a caste certificate. Along with your application number, return it to the office. Utilise the caste certificate for the aforementioned objectives by gathering it.
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Community certificate online application
Each state’s community certificate comes in a unique form. Once throughout your school years and once after you have finished intermediate, you will receive your community certificate. You will no longer be eligible if your caste has since been removed from the specified restricted class. But this is a very unusual instance.
Tamil Nadu offers an online form that may be downloaded, but the state of Gujarat has its own “Digital Gujarat Portal.” However, the majority of state governments need the same information, such as:
- The applicant’s name
- Name of father or husband
- Sex (M/F)
- Household address
- No. of ration card (copy to be enclosed)
- School leaving diploma (copy to be enclosed)
- Certificate of transfer (copy to be enclosed)
- Information about the community certificate of parents (copy to be enclosed)
- Specifics of parents’ school certificates (copy to be enclosed)
- Date of submission
- The applicant’s signature
FAQs
Are caste and category certificates interchangeable?
One's class category can be verified by a category certificate. It is not a document proving that a person is eligible for SC, SC, or OBC reservations. While a caste certificate is required only for reservations, it is optional for people who fall under the general category since they do not have one.
Is the OBC certificate recognised throughout India?
If an OBC certificate is granted in accordance with the federal government's OBC list, it is recognised across India. Your OBC Certificate is only valid in the state if it is on the list provided by the state.