Government Services · Tamil Nadu · Revenue Certificates
How to Apply for a Caste Certificate Online in Tamil Nadu
A community certificate (what many call a caste certificate) states the community you belong to, such as Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Most Backward Class (MBC), Backward Class (BC) or a Denotified Community (DNC). In Tamil Nadu you need it for reservation in education and government jobs, for scholarships and for several welfare schemes. You apply online through the TN e-Sevai portal, and as with other revenue certificates you first create a CAN, the Common Application Number that links your e-Sevai services. This page walks through the application, the documents, the issuing authority, how an SC/ST certificate is generally permanent, and what happens if someone challenges the validity of a certificate before a scrutiny committee or the High Court. Last verified October 2026.
- Where: TN e-Sevai at tnesevai.tn.gov.in; create a CAN first.
- Signed by: the Tahsildar or RDO, after VAO verification.
- Proof: father or family community certificate and old school records are the strongest.
- Validity: an SC/ST certificate is generally permanent in Tamil Nadu.
- If challenged: the scrutiny committee or the Madras High Court decides; Claw can track it.
01What it is and the TN communities
A community certificate records your community for reservation and welfare purposes. In Tamil Nadu the main categories are:
- SC and ST. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with reservation under the Constitution.
- MBC and DNC. Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities.
- BC and BC (Muslim). Backward Classes, with their own lists.
The certificate is usually issued in the name of the applicant and is based on the father community, traced through revenue and school records. It is signed by the Tahsildar or, for some communities, the Revenue Divisional Officer.
02Documents you need
Keep clear scans ready before you start. The usual set is:
| Document | Why it is asked |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar of the applicant | Identity and to pre-fill details |
| Ration or family card | Family and address proof |
| Community certificate of the father or a blood relative | To trace the community |
| School transfer or study certificate showing community | Documentary proof of community |
| Birth certificate | Date of birth and parentage |
| Address proof | Taluk jurisdiction |
The father or family community certificate and old school records are the strongest proof, so trace them first. Use the exact name spelling from Aadhaar across every field.
03Step by step on TN e-Sevai
The process runs on the TN e-Sevai portal, after you create the CAN.
- 1. Register and create a CAN. Go to tnesevai.tn.gov.in, register a citizen login and create your CAN with your personal and address details.
- 2. Pick the service. Under the Revenue Department services choose Community Certificate and the community type.
- 3. Fill the form. Select your CAN, enter the community and the family details, and match everything to your Aadhaar and family records.
- 4. Upload documents. Attach the father or family community proof, school records, birth and address proof.
- 5. Pay and submit. Pay the fee and submit; note the application number.
The VAO and Revenue Inspector verify the claim before the Tahsildar or RDO signs the certificate. You can also apply at an e-Sevai centre.
04Validity, download and verification
Log back in to e-Sevai and open the status with your application number. When it is approved, download the signed certificate.
- An SC or ST community certificate in Tamil Nadu is generally treated as permanent, so you do not re-apply each year.
- Some BC or MBC uses, especially creamy layer linked ones, may need a fresh or recent certificate; read the form you are filling.
- The certificate carries a reference number and QR code the receiving office can verify online.
05Common reasons it is rejected
Most rejections are fixable. The usual grounds are:
- No documentary proof of the father or family community.
- School records show a different community or spelling.
- Name or parentage does not match Aadhaar or the family card.
- The community claimed is not in the TN list for that category.
If it is a documentation gap, gather the family certificate and old school records and re-apply. A dispute over whether you belong to a community is a more serious matter, explained next.
06If the validity is challenged
A community certificate can be questioned, usually when a reserved seat or job is claimed on it. For Scheduled Tribe claims in particular, the genuineness of a certificate is examined by the District Level Vigilance Committee and the State Level Scrutiny Committee, which can confirm or cancel a certificate after inquiry. For other communities, a wrongful issue or cancellation is dealt with by the Revenue Divisional Officer and the District Collector. A scrutiny committee decision, a cancellation, or a refusal can be challenged by writ petition in the Madras High Court or its Madurai Bench, and such matters sometimes reach the Supreme Court.
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
If your community certificate goes before a scrutiny committee or into a writ in the High Court, you can create a FREE Claw account and track that matter across the forum that hears it. Claw covers 9,102 courts, benches and forums in India, so whether your case sits before the High Court or reaches the Supreme Court, there is a real tracking home for the orders and next dates. Judgment search spans 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, and results return in under 5 seconds, which helps if you or your lawyer want to see how courts have decided similar community and scrutiny disputes. Claw does not train its AI models on your documents. This is general information and not legal advice, and a contested community claim needs a lawyer.
To see what is already filed, run a case search across Indian courts by party name. For the time limit on challenging an order, see the limitation period for filing an appeal.
07Sources and further reading
- TN e-Sevai: tnesevai.tn.gov.in
- TN e-District: tnedistrict.tn.gov.in
- eCourts (case status): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This page is general information for readers in India, not legal advice. Fees, lists and steps can change, so confirm the current details on the official TN e-Sevai portal before you apply.
08Frequently asked questions
Which portal do I use for a community certificate in Tamil Nadu?
The TN e-Sevai portal at tnesevai.tn.gov.in. You first create a CAN (Common Application Number), then choose Community Certificate under the Revenue Department services. You can also apply at an e-Sevai centre.
What proof of community do I need?
The strongest proof is the community certificate of your father or a blood relative and your old school records showing the community, along with Aadhaar, the family card and a birth certificate. Trace the family certificate first.
Is a community certificate permanent?
In Tamil Nadu an SC or ST community certificate is generally treated as permanent. Some BC or MBC uses may ask for a recent certificate, often where a creamy layer check applies, so read the form you are filling.
Who checks whether an ST certificate is genuine?
For Scheduled Tribe claims the genuineness is examined by the District Level Vigilance Committee and the State Level Scrutiny Committee, which can confirm or cancel a certificate after inquiry. Their decision can be challenged by writ in the Madras High Court.
What if my certificate is cancelled or refused?
A cancellation or refusal can be challenged before the higher revenue authority and by writ petition in the Madras High Court, and such matters sometimes reach the Supreme Court. Claw can track that matter across the forum that hears it.