UPSC OBC Certificate Proforma Form - Summary
The Union Public Service Commission keeps a one-page proforma titled “Form of certificate to be produced by Other Backward Classes applying for appointment to posts under the Government of India”. On the UPSC Forms and Downloads page it is listed as “Proforma for claiming OBC benefits”, and it is the format that district and state authorities use when they issue an OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate to a candidate.
UPSC itself does not issue this certificate. The candidate applies for it from the office that is empowered to issue Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe certificates in the state, and carries it to the UPSC application. In its letter No. 22/12/2015-E.IB dated 28 July 2015, the Commission said it accepts caste certificates even in the old format as long as they fulfil the basic parameters required for OBC certification.
What the proforma asks for
- Name of the candidate, the name of the father, village or town, district or division, and the state or union territory.
- The community name plus the number and date of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment resolution by which that community was added to the Central List of OBCs.
- Confirmation that the candidate and the family ordinarily reside in the district or division named in the certificate.
- A statement that the candidate does not belong to the creamy layer persons and sections listed in Column 3 of the Schedule to DoPT O.M. No. 36012/22/93-Estt.(SCT) dated 8 September 1993, as amended by the O.M.s of 9 March 2004, 14 October 2008 and 27 May 2013.
- Signature, designation, date and the seal of the issuing office.
Creamy layer income limit
DoPT O.M. No. 36033/1/2013-Estt.(Res.) dated 27 May 2013 raised the creamy layer income limit from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum, with effect from 16 May 2013. Before that the limit was Rs 1 lakh under the 1993 order, then Rs 2.5 lakh in 2004 and Rs 4.5 lakh in 2008. The revised certificate format was circulated separately in O.M. No. 36036/2/2013-Estt.(Res.) dated 30 May 2014, which is why the resolution number and date now have to be written on the certificate.
Certificate date rule for UPSC applications
The UPSC technical FAQ for filling the online application states that OBC candidates must produce a Non-Creamy Layer certificate based on the income for the previous three financial years, issued on or after the completion of the previous financial year and not later than the closing date of the application. Certificates also have to be in the prescribed format and dated before the closing date for receipt of applications.
Rules that catch candidates out
- The caste name on the certificate, including its spelling, must match the notified central list exactly. Any variation is rejected.
- The OBC claim is decided in relation to the state to which the father originally belongs, so a candidate who moved to another state must produce a certificate based on the father’s OBC certificate from the original state.
- No change in the community status already stated in the simplified application form is ordinarily allowed.
- The word “ordinarily” in the proforma carries the same meaning as in Section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The declaration you also need
Alongside the community certificate, UPSC asks for a Performa-III declaration in which the candidate states that he or she does not fall under the OBC creamy layer category on the basis of income for the immediate preceding three financial years. Both the proforma and the declaration sit on the same UPSC page.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Document | Form of certificate to be produced by Other Backward Classes applying for appointment to posts under the Government of India |
| Listed on UPSC as | Proforma for claiming OBC benefits |
| Issued by | District or state authority empowered to issue SC/ST certificates |
| Creamy layer income limit | Rs 6 lakh per annum (DoPT O.M. dated 27 May 2013) |
| Certificate validity window | Based on income for the previous three financial years, issued before the application closing date |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in, Forms and Downloads page |
How to get the forms from the UPSC website
STEP 1 – Open upsc.gov.in and go to the “Forms and Downloads” page.
STEP 2 – Scroll to the certificate section and open “Proforma for claiming OBC benefits”.
STEP 3 – Print the format and take it to the district office that issues OBC certificates in your state, along with the proof of income and residence asked by that office.
STEP 4 – On the same page, open “Instruction for OBC Certificate (Creamy Layer)” for the creamy layer rules and the accepted formats.
Who signs the certificate?
The district or state officer authorised to issue OBC certificates signs it, with the seal of the office. The same set of authorities issues SC and ST certificates.
Can an old format certificate still be used?
Yes. UPSC stated in its letter dated 28 July 2015 that it accepts caste certificates in the old format if they meet the basic parameters for OBC certification.
Do I need anything besides the caste certificate?
Yes, the Performa-III declaration for OBC candidates, which is also listed on the UPSC Forms and Downloads page.
Related reading: OBC Caste Certificate Format to Apply for Job Vacancies under Govt. of India. Official sources: UPSC Forms and Downloads and the UPSC clarification on creamy layer certificates.
