Chhattisgarh EWS Certificate: Income Limit, Eligibility and Apply Process

The EWS Certificate in Chhattisgarh is officially called the Arthik Roop Se Kamjor Varg Ke Nagrik Ko Aay Evam Sampatti Praman Patra Jaari Karna (Income and Asset Certificate for Citizens of the Economically Weaker Section). It is issued by the Revenue Department through the Tehsildar at the tehsil level or the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) at the sub-division level, as authorised by the General Administration Department, Government of Chhattisgarh.

With this certificate, eligible general category residents of Chhattisgarh can claim 10% reservation in central and state government jobs, IITs, NITs, central universities, NEET All India Quota seats, CGPSC (Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission) exams, CGVYAPAM recruitments, and state government schemes.

Applications are submitted through the Sewa Setu portal at sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in, accessed also via edistrict.cgstate.gov.in (both are the same portal). Applications can also be submitted at Lok Seva Kendras located across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh. The portal also supports a WhatsApp helpline at 9203406400 for service queries.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an EWS certificate in Chhattisgarh, all of the following conditions must be satisfied:

• You must be a permanent resident of Chhattisgarh and belong to the general (unreserved) category. You must not belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories
• Your family's gross annual income from all sources must be below Rs. 8 lakh for the financial year preceding the year of application. Income includes salary, agriculture, business, profession, rent, and any other source
• Your family must not own 5 acres of agricultural land or more
• Your family must not own a residential flat of 1,000 sq ft or more
• Your family must not own a residential plot of 100 sq yards or more in a notified municipality
• Your family must not own a residential plot of 200 sq yards or more outside notified municipalities

All four asset conditions must be satisfied alongside the income condition. Income is always calculated on a gross basis. "Family" includes the applicant, parents, spouse, children below 18 years, and unmarried siblings below 18 years.

Issuing Authority in Chhattisgarh

The Government of Chhattisgarh, through the General Administration Department, has designated the Tehsildar and the Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) as the competent authorities to issue the EWS Income and Asset Certificate. The Tehsildar issues the certificate at the tehsil level. The SDO (Revenue) issues it at the sub-division level. For most applicants, the Tehsildar is the relevant authority. The certificate issued by either the Tehsildar or SDO (Revenue) is valid for both state and central purposes when issued in the DoPT-prescribed format.

Documents Required

Keep the following documents ready before applying. All documents must be in PDF or JPEG format for upload:

• Aadhaar Card of the applicant (mandatory for e-KYC on the Sewa Setu portal)
• Ration Card showing family members and Chhattisgarh address
• Income proof: Salary certificate or salary slips for salaried persons; Income Tax Returns; or a self-declaration of income for farmers and self-employed persons
• B-1 and Khasra (Khat Khasra): Chhattisgarh's primary land records maintained through the Bhu-Abhilekh system. The B-1 is the record of rights (Khatauni) showing land ownership. The Khasra shows individual plot details. Both are used to verify that the family's agricultural land is below the 5-acre limit. Download B-1 and Khasra records from the Bhu-Abhilekh Chhattisgarh portal at bhuiyan.cg.nic.in. If no agricultural land is owned, submit a self-declaration
• Property documents: Property tax receipt or registered deed showing area of any residential property owned by family members. If no property is owned, include this in the self-declaration
• Residence proof: Domicile Certificate, Ration Card, or Aadhaar Card showing Chhattisgarh address
• PAN Card of the applicant and earning family members
• Passport-size photograph of the applicant
• Self-declaration affidavit declaring total family income from all sources is below Rs. 8 lakh and that asset limits are not exceeded

Method 1: Apply Online Through Sewa Setu Portal

1. Go to sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in (or access it through edistrict.cgstate.gov.in which redirects to the same portal)
2. Click Nagrik Login (Citizen Login) on the homepage. If you are a new user, click Naya Panjeeyan Karen (New Registration). On the registration page, enter your name, mobile number, and set a password. Verify your mobile via OTP. Your account is created
3. Log in using your username and password. You can also log in using OTP sent to your registered mobile, or through DigiLocker
4. After logging in, on the dashboard go to the service search section. Search for EWS or Arthik Roop Se Kamjor Varg to find the EWS Income and Asset Certificate service
5. Click the Apply link for the service. The application form opens
6. Complete the e-KYC step using your Aadhaar. Enter your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Your personal details are auto-filled from the Aadhaar database after verification
7. Fill in the form details: select district, tehsil, village or ward, and enter address details
8. Fill in income details: enter gross income from each source separately for all family members including salary, agriculture, business, and other income for the previous financial year
9. Fill in asset details: agricultural land held in acres, any residential flat or plot owned, and whether the property is in a notified municipality
10. Upload all required documents within the portal's file size limits. Upload the B-1 Khasra (if land is owned), income proof, Aadhaar card, ration card, and self-declaration affidavit
11. Upload your passport-size photograph
12. The certificate is issued under the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva Guarantee Act. Online self-application through the portal is free of charge. Submit the application
13. An Application Reference Number is generated. Save this number. You also receive an SMS on your registered mobile
14. The application goes to the Tehsildar's login for verification and approval. SMS notifications are sent at every stage of processing
15. Once approved, log in to the portal, go to your application, and click Certificate Download. The digitally signed certificate can also be accessed through DigiLocker if you opted for DigiLocker login

Method 2: Apply Through Lok Seva Kendra

Lok Seva Kendras are government-run service centres across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh. They are managed by the district eGovernance societies under the respective Collectorates. Citizens who cannot apply online on their own can use this route.

1. Locate the nearest Lok Seva Kendra in your district. Click on Nikatam Kiosk (Nearest Kiosk) on the Sewa Setu homepage at sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in to see the map and list of all Lok Seva Kendras in your district
2. Carry your Aadhaar card, ration card, B-1 Khasra (if land is owned), income proof, property documents (if applicable), and passport-size photograph
3. Tell the Lok Seva Kendra operator you need the EWS Income and Asset Certificate (Arthik Roop Se Kamjor Varg Praman Patra)
4. The operator logs into the Sewa Setu portal and fills the application form on your behalf. Documents are scanned and uploaded. Photograph is uploaded
5. Pay the applicable service charge at the Lok Seva Kendra counter. Confirm the fee at the centre before submission
6. Collect the printed acknowledgement receipt with your Application Reference Number. Keep this for tracking and downloading the certificate after approval
7. You receive SMS updates on your registered mobile at every stage as the application moves through the Tehsildar's verification process
8. Once approved, return to the Lok Seva Kendra for a printed copy of the certificate or download it from the Sewa Setu portal using your Application Reference Number

Method 3: Apply Offline at the Tehsil Office

1. Visit the Tehsil office (Tehsildar's office) in your tehsil headquarters
2. Obtain the EWS Income and Asset Certificate application form from the counter of the Tehsil office
3. Fill in all details including your name, address, family income from all sources, and all land and property details for all family members
4. Attach photocopies of Aadhaar card, ration card, income proof, B-1 Khasra (if applicable), property papers (if applicable), and passport-size photograph
5. Submit the completed form and documents at the revenue counter of the Tehsil office. Provide your mobile number for SMS alerts
6. The receiving official registers the application in the Sewa Setu system and gives you an acknowledgement receipt with the Application Reference Number
7. The Tehsildar verifies all submitted documents and initiates a field inquiry through the Patwari for verification of land records through B-1 and Khasra, and confirmation of income sources and residence
8. The Patwari submits the field verification report to the Tehsildar. The Tehsildar approves or rejects the application based on the Patwari's report and the documents submitted
9. The approved certificate is uploaded to the Sewa Setu portal. Download it using your Application Reference Number or collect a printed copy from the Tehsil office

Patwari's Role in Chhattisgarh EWS Verification

The Patwari is the village-level revenue officer in Chhattisgarh who maintains B-1 and Khasra land records at the Patwari circle level. After you submit the EWS application, the Tehsildar forwards it to the Patwari for field verification. The Patwari verifies agricultural land using B-1 and Khasra records, confirms the family's residence, and checks declared income sources. The Patwari submits a verification report to the Tehsildar, who then issues or rejects the certificate based on this report.

Application Fee

Online self-application through the Sewa Setu portal is free of charge under the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva Guarantee Act. If applying through a Lok Seva Kendra, a nominal service charge is levied by the Kendra for facilitation. Confirm the exact charge at the Lok Seva Kendra before submitting. Offline applications at the Tehsil office may have a nominal fee as well. Check at the counter for the applicable charge.

Processing Time

Under the Chhattisgarh Lok Seva Guarantee Act, the EWS certificate must be issued within a stipulated timeframe. Based on the service delivery framework for revenue certificates in CG, applications are typically processed within 15 to 30 working days. The actual time depends on the Patwari's field verification and the workload at the Tehsil office. SMS notifications are sent to your registered mobile at every processing stage. If the certificate is not issued within the stipulated period, you can file a complaint through the Sewa Setu portal's grievance section at sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in/ticketingForm.do.

Validity of the EWS Certificate in Chhattisgarh

The EWS certificate is valid for one financial year (April 1 to March 31). It must be renewed every year by applying fresh with updated income documents for the previous financial year. For CGPSC and CGVYAPAM exams, check the specific notification for validity requirements at document verification. For NEET All India Quota counselling in June or July, apply for a fresh certificate after April 1 of that year. For state quota NEET counselling in Chhattisgarh, the certificate must be issued by the Chhattisgarh Tehsildar or SDO (Revenue).

How to Track Application Status

1. Go to sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in
2. On the homepage, find the Avedan Ki Sthiti (Application Status) option
3. Enter your Application Reference Number
4. Click Search. The current status of your application is displayed, showing which stage the application is at in the Tehsildar's verification process

You can also log in to your Sewa Setu account, go to your application history, and check the current status from your dashboard.

How to Download the Certificate

1. Log in to sewasetu.cgstate.gov.in with your citizen credentials
2. Go to your application history on the dashboard
3. Find the approved EWS certificate application
4. Click Certificate Download to download the digitally signed PDF certificate

The certificate carries the Tehsildar's digital signature and is legally valid for submission to government offices, recruitment boards, and educational institutions. It can also be accessed through DigiLocker if you registered using DigiLocker on the Sewa Setu portal.