Patna: The Bihar government has introduced stricter rules for issuing caste, income and residence certificates, mandating applicants to upload supporting documents at the time of applying.
Under the revised system, applications submitted without the required documents will be rejected. Officials said the move is intended to curb the issuance of fraudulent certificates and enhance transparency in the process.
For residence certificates, applicants will no longer be able to rely solely on identity cards. They must now submit valid proof of address or land-related documents to establish residency.
The norms for income certificates have also been tightened. Applicants are required to provide income-related documents — including salary slips or income statements — along with identity proof, in a bid to prevent false declarations.
For caste certificates, submission of land records, commonly known as khatiyan, has been made mandatory alongside identity documents. In cases where land is registered in the name of a family member, applicants must furnish a genealogical chart (vanshavali) to establish their relationship with the land-owning family.
Authorities have expanded the list of acceptable documents to include khatiyan records, gift deeds (dan patra), and other land-related title documents, including those issued to landless individuals.
At the same time, provisions have been made for applicants who do not possess land documents. Such individuals can opt for physical verification, under which revenue officials will conduct on-site inspections before approving the application.
Officials said the revised rules may make the process more stringent but are expected to significantly reduce fraudulent practices and ensure that benefits linked to these certificates reach only eligible individuals.
