November 6, 2026

How to Get a Caste Certificate in Maharashtra Online: Aaple Sarkar Steps, Proof Needed Before 1950, 1961 or 1967, and Validity Certificate

Apply for a Maharashtra caste certificate on Aaple Sarkar with proof of caste and residence before the cut-off date for your category. Steps, documents and validity.

District Collector office in Pune

Photo: DesiBoy101 / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Last updated: 3 November 2026 · 5 min read · By Priya Deshmukh

In Maharashtra, apply for a caste certificate online on the Aaple Sarkar portal or at a Seva Kendra, with documents showing your caste and your family’s residence in Maharashtra before the cut-off date for your category. The certificate is issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). For education, jobs and elections, you often also need a separate caste validity certificate from the district caste scrutiny committee.

Cut-off dates for proof

You must show that you or your father, grandfather or other paternal relative lived in Maharashtra with that caste on or before:

CategoryCut-off date
Scheduled Castes (SC)10 August 1950
Scheduled Tribes (ST)6 September 1950
Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT)21 November 1961
OBC and Special Backward Category (SBC)13 October 1967

Documents usually needed

  • School leaving certificate of the applicant, and of the father or a paternal relative, showing caste
  • Proof of caste and residence before the cut-off date: old revenue records, birth register extract, school register entry, property documents or similar
  • Family tree affidavit (vanshaval)
  • Aadhaar and address proof
  • Photograph

Old records from the tehsil or school can take time to find, so start early.

Step by step

  1. Log in to aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in.
  2. Under Revenue Department services, choose “Caste Certificate”.
  3. Fill in the form and upload the documents.
  4. Pay the service fee.
  5. The SDO’s office checks the papers and may call you for verification.
  6. Download the digitally signed certificate when approved.

Caste validity certificate

For professional course admissions, government jobs, promotions and local body elections, you usually need a caste validity certificate as well. Apply to the District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee through the Barti portal (bartievalidity.maharashtra.gov.in) with your caste certificate and supporting records.

Tip: Students who need a validity certificate for admission should apply months in advance; scrutiny committees see a rush in May and June.

Also read our guides to the income certificate and domicile certificate.

This is general information. Eligibility and proof requirements are set by the state’s caste certificate rules and can be complex in individual cases; follow the instructions of your sub-divisional office.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a caste certificate in Maharashtra?

Online on the Aaple Sarkar portal or at a Seva Kendra, with proof of caste and residence before your category’s cut-off date.

What is the cut-off date for an OBC caste certificate in Maharashtra?

13 October 1967.

Who issues the caste certificate in Maharashtra?

The Sub-Divisional Officer of your area.

What is a caste validity certificate?

A certificate from the district caste scrutiny committee confirming your caste certificate, needed for many admissions, jobs and elections.

About the author: Priya Deshmukh

Priya Deshmukh covers education, careers and study abroad for Puneri Pages.

How we put this answer together

This guide is based on the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, De-notified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000, its rules, and the Aaple Sarkar portal’s caste certificate service. We review this answer when official rules or figures change; please check the official sources named above before you act on it.

Last updated: 3 November 2026. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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