Govt Services · Bihar · Caste Certificate
How to Apply for a Caste Certificate Online in Bihar
A caste certificate in Bihar, the Jati Praman Patra, proves that you belong to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Extremely Backward Class or Backward Class recognised in the state. You need it for reservation in admissions and jobs, scholarships, and many welfare benefits. In Bihar the service runs under the Bihar Right to Public Services Act, 2011, which sets a delivery deadline, and the caste is listed in the state schedules (the EBC list is often called Annexure I and the BC list Annexure II). You apply online on the RTPS portal, which runs on the ServicePlus system at serviceonline.bihar.gov.in, or through a Lok Seva Kendra or Common Service Centre. This page gives the steps, the documents, the fee, the deadline, how to download the signed certificate, and what happens if the caste claim is later questioned. Last verified October 2026.
- Portal: RTPS Bihar on ServicePlus at serviceonline.bihar.gov.in (or a Lok Seva Kendra / CSC).
- Law: Bihar Right to Public Services Act, 2011, with a delivery deadline.
- Categories: SC, ST, EBC (Annexure I) and BC (Annexure II); state and central lists can differ.
- If challenged: scrutiny or verification, then appeal, and finally the Patna High Court by writ.
01What a caste certificate is used for
A caste certificate records your caste and its category under the law. In Bihar it is used for:
- Reservation in government and aided admissions and in public jobs.
- Scholarships and fee concessions tied to SC, ST, EBC or BC status.
- Welfare schemes and age or fee relaxations in recruitment.
Bihar keeps separate state lists, so a caste in the EBC schedule (often Annexure I) is different from one in the BC schedule (Annexure II), and the central Other Backward Classes list can differ from the state list. Make sure the certificate shows the right category for the form you are filling.
02Documents you need
Keep clear scans ready. The usual list is:
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar card of the applicant | Identity and OTP verification |
| Residence proof of Bihar | To show you are a resident of the state |
| Proof of caste of a blood relative | Father or grandfather caste record, school record or an existing family caste certificate |
| Ward member / Sarpanch / local certificate | Local confirmation of caste, where asked |
| Passport-size photograph | For the application form |
The strongest proof is an older caste record of your father or grandfather. If no family record exists, the field enquiry becomes more important, so attach whatever school or revenue record names the caste.
03How to apply online, step by step
- Open serviceonline.bihar.gov.in (reachable from rtps.bihar.gov.in) and log in after a one-time registration and OTP.
- Under Apply for services, pick the General Administration Department and the caste-certificate service at the level you need.
- Select the correct category (SC, ST, EBC or BC) and caste exactly as listed in the state schedule.
- Fill the family details, upload the documents, and submit.
- Save the application reference number shown on screen and sent by SMS.
A Lok Seva Kendra or Common Service Centre can file the same RTPS application for you if you cannot apply online yourself.
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04Fee, deadline and download
The caste certificate is a low-cost RTPS service, often free or a nominal fee on the portal.
The service is notified under the Bihar Right to Public Services Act, 2011, so the office must act within the stated time limit. Track the application with the reference number, and once it is approved, download the digitally signed certificate from the Certificate download section. Check that the caste and category printed are exactly correct before you use it anywhere.
05Common problems and fixes
- Wrong category chosen. EBC, BC, SC and ST are separate; picking the wrong one makes the certificate useless for your claim.
- No older family caste record. The enquiry takes longer; submit school records, revenue records or a relative's certificate to support the claim.
- State list versus central list. A caste can be in the Bihar list but not the central OBC list, or the reverse. Use the certificate type the form requires.
- Spelling mismatch with Aadhaar. Keep the name identical across the form and proofs.
06If the caste claim is challenged
A caste certificate can be questioned later, for example during recruitment, admission or a scrutiny of the claim. Bihar refers doubtful claims to a caste scrutiny or verification process, and a cancellation or rejection can be challenged before the authority above and, finally, before the Patna High Court by a writ petition. These matters turn on records and on how courts have read similar claims, so they can run for a while.
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If your caste claim goes to a scrutiny committee, an appellate authority or the High Court, you can create a FREE Claw account to track the matter across whichever forum hears it. Claw covers 9,102 courts, benches and forums, and its judgment search spans 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, so you can read how similar caste-validity disputes were decided. Results come back in under 5 seconds, and Claw does not train on your documents. This is general information and a tracking tool, not legal advice on your specific claim.
07Sources and further reading
- RTPS Bihar / ServicePlus: serviceonline.bihar.gov.in
- RTPS Bihar (service landing): rtps.bihar.gov.in
- RTPS appeal portal: rtpsappeal.bihar.gov.in
- eCourts (case status, if it reaches court): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This page is general information for readers in India, not legal advice. Confirm the current fee, documents and category list on the official portal before you apply.
08Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for a caste certificate in Bihar?
Online on the RTPS portal on the ServicePlus system at serviceonline.bihar.gov.in, reachable from rtps.bihar.gov.in, or through a Lok Seva Kendra or Common Service Centre that uses the same portal.
What is the difference between EBC, BC, SC and ST in Bihar?
These are separate categories with separate state schedules. The EBC list is often called Annexure I and the BC list Annexure II, while SC and ST are national schedules. The reservation and benefits you can claim depend on the exact category on your certificate.
Is a Bihar caste certificate valid for a central OBC claim?
Not always. The Bihar state list can differ from the central Other Backward Classes list, and a central claim may need a certificate in the central format with a non-creamy-layer declaration. Use the type of certificate the form asks for.
What proof of caste is best?
An older caste record of your father or grandfather, such as a school record, a revenue record or an existing family caste certificate. Where no family record exists, the field enquiry carries more weight, so support it with whatever record names the caste.
What if my caste claim is challenged later?
It can go to a scrutiny or verification process, then to an appellate authority, and finally to the Patna High Court by a writ petition. Such matters turn on records and on earlier court decisions, so they can take time.