The Bihar Government and the General Administration Department (GAD) have updated the guidelines for issuing Caste Certificates (Jati Praman Patra) for women in 2026. A crucial rule enforcement regarding married women is now in strict effect: their caste will be determined solely by their father’s lineage and address, not their husband’s. This certificate is vital for claiming reservations in Bihar Govt jobs, admissions (BPSC, BSEB), and welfare schemes.
Key Updates for 2026 (New Rules)
- Married Women: The Caste Certificate must be issued from the Block/Circle office of the Father’s residence. Certificates issued on the husband’s address/lineage are liable to be rejected for reservation purposes.
- Proof Required: While the application can mention the husband’s name, the proof of caste (Khatiyan/Land Receipt) must belong to the father/forefathers.
- Ward Number: Correct Ward Number of the father’s residence is mandatory.
Bihar Caste Certificate 2026: Overview
| Authority | General Administration Department, Govt of Bihar (RTPS) |
| Service Name | Issuance of Caste Certificate (Jati Praman Patra) |
| Levels of Issue | Block (RO) > Sub-Division (SDO) > District (DM) |
| Application Mode | Online (ServicePlus) or Offline (Block Counter) |
| Application Fee | FREE (No Charge) |
| Delivery Time | 10 Working Days |
| Validity | Permanent (Until caste status changes by Govt) |
| Official Website | serviceonline.bihar.gov.in |
Required Documents
To avoid rejection, ensure you upload clean scans (under 200KB usually) of the following:
- For Unmarried Women:
- Aadhaar Card (Self).
- Father’s Address Proof (Electricity Bill/Voter ID).
- Self-Declaration (Shapath Patra).
- Passport Size Photo.
- For Married Women (Strict Compliance):
- Aadhaar Card of the Applicant.
- Father’s Address Proof (Linkage to father’s caste).
- Husband’s Address Proof (For ‘Present Address’ section only).
- Photo of the Applicant.
How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)
- Visit the Portal: Go to the official RTPS website: serviceonline.bihar.gov.in.
- Select Service: On the left sidebar, click on “Online Application” > “General Administration Department” > “Issuance of Caste Certificate”.
- Choose Level: Always apply at the Block Level (Revenue Officer) first.
- Fill Details:
- Select Gender: Female (Pushtaini/Father’s details mandatory).
- Enter Father’s Name and Mother’s Name strictly as per records.
- In “Permanent Address”, fill the Father’s Address.
- In “Present Address”, you may fill the Husband’s/Current Address.
- Upload Photo: Upload a recent passport-size photo (Self-attested usually preferred).
- Submit: Verify the draft, attach documents (Aadhaar), and submit.
- Acknowledgement: Download the receipt containing the Application ID and Delivery Date.
How to Download Certificate
Once the 10-day period is over, follow these steps:
- Go to the “Download Certificate” section on the RTPS homepage.
- Enter your Application ID (e.g., BCCCO/2026/…) and Name.
- Click “Download”. Valid digitally signed certificates are accepted everywhere.