How to Link Aadhaar Card to Caste Certificate?

Last Updated : Dec. 24, 2024, 12:51 p.m.

People from scheduled castes/tribes can now link their Aadhaar cards to their caste certificates, thanks to a system established by the Indian government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This linkage helps confirm identities and ensures that those eligible can easily access a variety of government benefits, including educational opportunities. School administrators and other officials play a crucial role in gathering and submitting the necessary paperwork and facilitating access to the benefits intended for these groups. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps on how to link an Aadhaar card to a caste certificate. Let’s begin!

What is a Caste Certificate?

Caste Certificates are issued to prove that an individual belongs to a specific caste in India. The government has recognized 'Scheduled Castes' in the Indian Constitution because it acknowledges that this group requires special encouragement and opportunities to advance in society. As part of the Indian System of Protective Discrimination, certain privileges are granted to this category of citizens. These include reservation of seats in schools and colleges, quotas in educational institutions, reservation of seats in legislatures, government services, exemptions from fees at the time of admission to schools and colleges, and relaxation of upper age limits for applying to certain jobs, among others. To avail of these services, individuals must have a valid Caste Certificate issued by the Tahsildar.

Benefits of Linking Aadhaar Card with Caste Certificate

There are numerous benefits to linking your Aadhaar card with your caste certificate, commonly referred to as the caste certificate link to Aadhaar card:

1. Government Scholarships: Students belonging to backward classes and SC/ST categories can secure scholarships for their education by verifying their caste through their Aadhaar card. State Governments are tasked with linking the Aadhaar cards of students in 5th to 8th grades from these categories with their caste certificates.

2. Quota at Institutes such as IIT and IIM: Students who are ST, SC, or OBC will receive a 49 percent reservation in India's most prestigious educational institutions, such as IITs and IIMs, by linking their Aadhaar card to their caste certificates.

3. Reservations in Government Positions: Applicants from the SC, ST, or OBC categories will pay a reduced application fee for all types of government jobs. There are also slots reserved for the underprivileged in various government posts.

4. Reservations in Politics: Political representation is highly valued in our country. Linking Aadhaar cards with caste information will promote transparency in political bodies, ensuring fair representation. This method allows seats in election constituencies to be accurately allocated based on population demographics. It offers a significant benefit to the underprivileged segments of society, who are often marginalized in political processes.

How to Link Aadhaar Card with Caste Certificate?

Once someone gets their Aadhaar Card, it’s linked to their caste or domicile certificate. The central government has directed all state governments to make sure that students get these certificates when they start 10th grade. They have 60 days from when school starts to do this.

These certificates are important because they show if someone belongs to the SC/ST categories or other backward classes. This helps make sure that people from these groups can get government benefits meant to help them.

Local governments in all states need to check that people have registered their Aadhaar and linked it to their caste certificates. This helps even people from poorer backgrounds get the benefits they need. The process might be tricky and take some time, but efforts are ongoing to make it smoother and easier for everyone.

System to Link Aadhaar Card to Caste Certificate

The responsibility for linking Aadhaar cards to caste certificates primarily rests with the state governments. Although the Aadhaar card is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the groundwork for linking it with caste certificates is managed by the state authorities.

Here are the key responsibilities of the state governments:

• They must ensure that all residents receive an Aadhaar card.

• They are also responsible for issuing caste certificates or domicile certificates.

• The government must connect the Aadhaar card to the caste certificate for all students in 10th and 12th grade, usually within one to two months after they enroll.

• For individuals from the most backward classes, the state government must link their Aadhaar cards to their caste certificates, regardless of their educational status.

Advantages of Caste Certificate

Individuals who hold a legitimate caste certificate will receive the benefits connected with it, such as reservations in schools, colleges, universities, employment, and so on. If a person is OBC, SC, ST, VJ, NT, it is best to obtain a caste certificate since it can help them earn scholarships in schools, from government agencies, and it can also help them secure educational loans, among other things.