Hello,

If you have a valid caste certificate signed by a competent authority then you are eligible for reservation benefits if government has provided it for you.

The SC/ST category candidate should ensure that he/she fulfills all t he criteria applicable to him/her before applying for an Examination, f ailing which his/her candidature will be liable to be cancelled.

The details of these criteria are as under:

(i) SC/ST certificate should be dated prior to closing date of application or the cut-off date as may be prescribed in the notification for the Examination concerned.

(ii) SC/ST certificate should be in prescribed format.

(iii) SC/ST certificate should be issued by the competent authority.

(iv) SC/ST certificate should contain the Signature, Stamp/Office Seal of issuing authority. However, in case of digital certificate, where a declaration dispensing any of the above requirement i.e. Physical Signature/Stamp/Office Seal, has been made in the certificate, the r equisition to the extent of declaration will be dispensed with.

(v) Migration Clause/Para should also be the part of the SC/ST certificate, if applicable.

(vi) Candidate’s Personal details should be as per Matriculation/School Leaving Certificate, equivalent certificate, etc.

(vii ) SC/ST certificate should contain the name of the caste/tribe exactly as per the Central List .

(viii) SC/ST certificate should contain the relevant resolution of Government of India of caste/tribe to which candidate belongs.

(ix) SC/ST certificate should contain the “ordinarily resides” para and the same should be correctly filled in.

The prescribed format is available on the Commission’s website (www.upsc.gov.in) under section “Forms & Download”. The candidate may download the requisite format from there.

I Hope you find the answer helpful.

Thank you.