The Backward Classes Welfare Department, a Department under the Govt. of West Bengal is working towards sustainable development of the persons belonging to the Schedules Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes of West Bengal. The main aim of the Department is to improve the quality of life of these socially and economically backward classes and enhancement of capability of the people belonging to these communittees, so that they can be very much part & parcel of the mainstream of the Society.

Caste Certificate
Caste Certificate is a legal document that certifies the ethnic group of a person belonging to a particular caste. In this article, we look at the process of obtaining a West Bengal caste certificate in detail.

Reasons for Obtaining Caste Certificate
A person who is holding a caste certificate of any minority class can avail certain benefits under the reserved quota. Caste certificate is considered as legal proof that an individual belongs to a reserved category. Some of the major reasons for obtaining caste certificate are listed below:

To get a job under the reservation quota.
To get seats and fees relaxation in an educational institution.
To get a loan for education, house or business under the Government and Non – Government schemes.
Caste certificate enhances the standard of living of people belonging to the scheduled tribes, scheduled caste, and other backward classes by providing them with better opportunities.

Required Information
The applicant must provide the following information in the caste certificate application form:

Applicant’s name
Father/Mother/Guardian name
Mobile number
Email ID
Aadhaar number
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Residential address
Caste certificate number of any of the family members
Required Documents
The following are the list of documents required for obtaining caste certificate in West Bengal.

Applicant’s identification details
Residence proof
Birth Certificate
Income certificate
Aadhaar Card
Voter ID
Ration Card
Certificate from Panchayat/municipality
Caste certificate of the family member