Caste Certificate Affidavit (India)
SC / ST / OBC Declaration — Notarised Affidavit
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF CASTE CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
Under the Constitution of India — Articles 341, 342 & 340
I, [Deponent Name], son/daughter of [Father's Name], aged [Age as on [Affidavit Date]], residing at [Residential Address], Aadhaar No. [Aadhaar Number], do hereby solemnly affirm and state as follows:
1. That I am a citizen of India and belong to the [Caste Name] community, which is a [Reservation Category] in the State of [State Name] under [Presidential Order].
2. That I was born on [Date of Birth] and have been ordinarily residing at the above address, which is within the State of [State Name].
3. That my community [Caste Name] has traditionally resided in the State of [State Name] and the caste has been notified as [Reservation Category] for the said state.
4. That all the supporting documents enclosed with this affidavit, including [Supporting Documents], are genuine and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
5. That I have not previously obtained a false or fraudulent caste certificate and I understand that making a false declaration constitutes perjury under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 / Section 229 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and may result in cancellation of all benefits obtained and criminal prosecution.
VERIFICATION: I, [Deponent Name], the deponent above named, do hereby verify that the contents of this affidavit are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. No part of it is false and nothing material has been concealed.
Verified at [Place of Execution] on [Affidavit Date].
Deponent: [Deponent Name]
Sworn and signed before me on [Affidavit Date] at [Place of Execution].
Notary Public / First Class Judicial Magistrate
Seal and Registration Number: _______________
Deponent
________________
Signature
Notary Public / First Class Judicial Magistrate (with Seal)
________________
Signature
What Is a Caste Certificate Affidavit (India)?
A Caste Certificate Affidavit in India sets out facts the deponent solemnly affirms to be true, in a form that can be relied on by a court or authority.
The legal framework governing the Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) in India draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. In India, sworn affidavits and statutory declarations are governed by the Oaths Act 1969 and attested by a Notary Public under the Notaries Act 1952 or an Oath Commissioner; their evidentiary value is recognised under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. A false statement in an affidavit attracts prosecution for giving false evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. Parties executing a Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) in India should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Oaths Act, 1969 sets the foundational requirements.
When Do You Need a Caste Certificate Affidavit (India)?
A Caste Certificate Affidavit is needed whenever an individual applies for an official caste certificate for the first time or seeks renewal or reissuance. The most common situations include: applying for admission to government schools, colleges, or universities under SC/ST/OBC quota seats; applying for central or state government jobs where reservation quotas are available; applying for scholarships, fellowships, or financial assistance schemes earmarked for SC/ST/OBC beneficiaries such as the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; applying for reservation benefits in housing boards, land allotment, and government housing schemes; contesting elections to seats reserved for SC/ST in Parliament, State Legislatures, or local bodies under Part IX and Part IX-A of the Constitution; applying for priority services or fee waivers in government hospitals; and applying for licences, permits, or government contracts where preference is given to SC/ST/OBC entrepreneurs under MSME schemes. In states that require submission of a fresh affidavit for each application (rather than using a previously issued certificate), the Caste Certificate Affidavit must be recently sworn, typically within three to six months of the date of application.
Parties in India should prepare a Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. In India, sworn affidavits and statutory declarations are governed by the Oaths Act 1969 and attested by a Notary Public under the Notaries Act 1952 or an Oath Commissioner; their evidentiary value is recognised under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. A false statement in an affidavit attracts prosecution for giving false evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.
What to Include in Your Caste Certificate Affidavit (India)
A valid Caste Certificate Affidavit in India must contain: the full name, father's name, date of birth, and complete residential address of the deponent; the specific caste, sub-caste, or tribe name exactly as listed in the relevant Presidential Order or State Government notification; the specific Presidential Order or State notification under which the caste is notified, including the state for which the caste is listed (caste certificates are state-specific and a certificate from one state is not automatically valid in another); a declaration that the deponent has been residing in the state for a continuous period or that the caste is the traditional caste of origin; for OBC affidavits, an additional declaration that the deponent and their immediate family do not fall within the creamy layer as defined by the Central Government or State Government as applicable; a list of supporting documents being submitted along with the affidavit, such as the parent's caste certificate, school leaving certificate mentioning caste, birth certificate, and Aadhaar card; a solemn affirmation that the contents are true and correct to the best of the deponent's knowledge and belief; the deponent's signature or thumb impression; the Notary Public's or Magistrate's seal, signature, and registration number; and the stamp paper value (typically ₹10 to ₹100 depending on the state). The affidavit must be in the language specified by the relevant state authority and in the prescribed format where one exists.
Additional compliance elements for a Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) used in India include: In India, sworn affidavits and statutory declarations are governed by the Oaths Act 1969 and attested by a Notary Public under the Notaries Act 1952 or an Oath Commissioner; their evidentiary value is recognised under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. A false statement in an affidavit attracts prosecution for giving false evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code from 1 July 2024. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for India-compliant documentation.
Cite this page
Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) (India) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/india/government/declarations/caste-certificate-affidavit-india
"Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) (India)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/india/government/declarations/caste-certificate-affidavit-india.
@misc{formslegal-caste-certificate-affidavit-india,
author = {{Forms Legal}},
title = {Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) (India)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/india/government/declarations/caste-certificate-affidavit-india}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on Oaths Act, 1969}
}Frequently Asked Questions
A Caste Certificate Affidavit is a sworn statement executed before a Notary Public or a First Class Judicial Magistrate by a person claiming membership of a Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class (OBC) in India, in support of an application for an official caste certificate from the competent authority (usually the Tehsildar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or District Collector). The constitutional basis for reservations — and thus for caste certificates — lies in Articles 15(4), 16(4), 341, and 342 of the Constitution of India, which empower Parliament and State Legislatures to make special provisions for the advancement of socially and educationally backward classes or SCs and STs. The lists of SCs and STs are notified by the President of India under Articles 341 and 342 through Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 and Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950, and their subsequent amendments. OBC lists are maintained by the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and respective State Backward Classes Commissions. The caste certificate is required for accessing reservation benefits in government employment (Article 16(4)), educational admissions (Article 15(4)), political reservations in local bodies and legislatures, welfare schemes, and fee concessions.
Making a false Caste Certificate Affidavit in India has serious legal consequences at multiple levels. At the criminal level, a false sworn affidavit constitutes the offence of perjury under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code 1860 (now Section 229 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023), which is punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and fine. If the false affidavit is used to obtain a government certificate by misrepresentation, it also constitutes cheating under Section 420 IPC (now Section 318 BNS) and forgery if any document is fabricated. The Supreme Court of India, in the landmark judgments of Kumari Madhuri Patil v. Addl. Commissioner, Tribal Development (1994) 6 SCC 241 and State of Maharashtra v. Milind AIR 2001 SC 393, has held that all appointments and admissions obtained on the basis of false caste certificates are void ab initio and must be cancelled. All benefits received — salaries, promotions, educational degrees, scholarships — are recoverable. The candidate is permanently debarred from future reservation benefits. The employer or institution is required to terminate services and cancel admissions without any compensation. State Vigilance Committees established under the Supreme Court's directions conduct caste certificate scrutiny proceedings. An adverse finding by the Scrutiny Committee results in cancellation of the caste certificate. The Supreme Court has consistently held that social justice cannot be allowed to be hijacked by fraudulent claims, and courts take a very strict view of false caste certificate cases.
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations in India do not have any income or creamy layer restriction — a person belonging to an SC or ST community is entitled to reservation benefits regardless of their family's income or the social advancement of their parents. The Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India AIR 1993 SC 477 upheld 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) but introduced the creamy layer concept for OBCs — the more advanced and affluent sections of OBC communities are excluded from OBC reservation benefits. The Central Government defines the OBC Creamy Layer through Office Memoranda issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training). Currently, OBC persons whose parents' gross annual income exceeds ₹8 lakh (revised in 2017) fall in the creamy layer and are not eligible for OBC reservations in central government jobs and central educational institutions. Many states have their own creamy layer criteria for state-level reservations. An OBC Caste Certificate Affidavit must therefore contain a declaration not only about caste status but also about income and social status for creamy layer determination. The affidavit must state that the deponent's parents do not hold constitutional posts (President, Vice-President, Supreme Court/High Court Judges), Class I or Group A Central Services posts, or meet specified income thresholds, as applicable. This dual declaration — of OBC caste status and non-creamy layer status — is essential for valid OBC certificate applications.
A Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) does not legally require a lawyer in India, and individuals and businesses may draft and execute the document independently. The Oaths Act, 1969 does not mandate legal representation for the creation or signing of this type of document. However, seeking independent legal advice from a qualified India lawyer is recommended for transactions involving substantial financial value, complex regulatory requirements, or cross-border elements where multiple legal jurisdictions may apply. A lawyer can verify that the document complies with all applicable statutory requirements, identify potential risks specific to the transaction, and confirm that the terms adequately protect the interests of all parties involved. The civil and criminal courts of competent jurisdiction in India deal with disputes or offences arising in connection with this type of document. Professional legal review is particularly advisable where the document will be submitted to government agencies or used as evidence in legal proceedings.
A Caste Certificate Affidavit (India) does not legally require a lawyer in India, though legal advice is recommended. Under Indian law, the Indian Contract Act 1872 governs agreements. The Information Technology Act 2000 governs electronic contracts and data protection. The Consumer Protection Act 2019 provides consumer rights. The Income Tax Act 1961 requires tax compliance. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point — always review with a qualified Indian advocate for significant transactions. Under India law, the Oaths Act, 1969 applies, and parties should seek independent legal advice from a qualified lawyer to confirm compliance with all applicable requirements. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for India-compliant documentation.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
Found an error? Let us knowRelated Documents
You may also find these documents useful:
Affidavit (India)
A general-purpose affidavit for India, governed by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 and the Oaths Act 1969. A sworn written statement of facts made voluntarily by a deponent and attested before a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner. Admissible in courts and government proceedings throughout India under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908.
Domicile Certificate Affidavit (India)
A sworn affidavit for India supporting an application for a domicile or residence certificate under applicable State Domicile Rules. Declares the applicant's permanent residence, period of stay, and entitlement to state-specific educational and employment benefits.
Income Certificate Affidavit (India)
A sworn affidavit for obtaining an income certificate in India, required for EWS/OBC reservations, government subsidies, and welfare scheme applications. Complies with state income certificate rules and is executed before a Notary Public or Executive Magistrate.
Character Certificate Affidavit (India)
A character certificate affidavit for India under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023, declaring the deponent's good moral character, absence of criminal convictions, and upright conduct. Used for job applications, educational admissions, government service appointments, passport applications, visa applications, and professional body registrations.