West Bengal has one of the most geographically and culturally diverse tribal populations in India. From the Santal and Munda communities of Purulia, Bankura, and Birbhum to the Bhutia, Lepcha, Limbu, and Tamang communities living in the Darjeeling hills and Kalimpong, the state is home to many officially recognised Scheduled Tribes.
People belonging to these notified tribal communities can apply for a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate through the official West Bengal caste certificate portal or a Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK). The certificate serves as proof of ST status for reservations, scholarships, educational admissions, government jobs, and various welfare schemes.
Although the online portal and application process are largely the same as those for the SC certificate, there are important differences in eligibility, religion criteria, and tribal verification that every applicant should understand before applying.
Scheduled Tribes Notified in West Bengal
The following communities are officially recognised as Scheduled Tribes (STs) in West Bengal under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, as amended:
- Asur
- Baiga
- Bhumij
- Bhutia (including Sherpa, Toto, Dukpa, Kagatay, Tibetan, and Yolmo)
- Birhor
- Birjia
- Chakma
- Chero
- Chik Baraik
- Garo
- Gond
- Gorait
- Hajang
- Ho
- Karmali
- Kharwar
- Khond
- Kisan
- Kora
- Korwa
- Lepcha
- Lodha (including Kheria and Kharia)
- Lohara
- Lohra
- Magh
- Mahali
- Mahli
- Mal Pahariya
- Mech
- Mru
- Munda
- Nagesia
- Oraon
- Parhaiya
- Rabha
- Santal
- Sauria Paharia
- Savar
- Limbu (Subba)
- Tamang
Santal is the largest Scheduled Tribe community in West Bengal and is widely found in Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, and Paschim Bardhaman districts. The Bhutia, Lepcha, Limbu (Subba), and Tamang communities are mainly concentrated in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
West Bengal is also home to three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)-Birhor, Lodha, and Toto. These communities may be eligible for additional welfare and development programmes introduced specifically for PVTGs by the Central or State Government, subject to the eligibility conditions of each scheme.
One Important Difference from SC: No Religion Restriction
Unlike the SC certificate which requires the applicant to be Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh, there is no religion restriction for the ST certificate. Tribal identity is not linked to religion under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. A person from the Santal, Munda, Oraon, or any other notified tribe can apply for the ST certificate regardless of whether they follow Sarnaism, Christianity, Hinduism, or any other faith. The religion field in the application form does not apply to ST applicants in the same way it does for SC.
How the ST Certificate Is Issued in West Bengal
After you submit your application through the official portal or a Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK), it is verified at multiple levels before the certificate is issued.
- Application submitted through the official portal or BSK.
- Initial scrutiny by the Inspector.
- Field verification by the Block Development Officer (BDO).
- Final approval and certificate issuance by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
- Digitally signed certificate made available for download from the official portal.
The Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) is the competent authority responsible for issuing the Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate in West Bengal. The service is provided free of cost.
Documents Required
You need at least one of the following identity documents:
- Voter ID card (Epic Number)
- Aadhaar card number
- Khadyasathi number (West Bengal Digital Ration Card) with your ration card category: AAY, PHH, SPHH, RKSY-I, RKSY-II, or GEN
You also need:
- Names and addresses of two local referees from your area (mandatory)
- Passport-size photograph (mandatory upload during application)
- Your date of birth, place of birth, district, and police station details
- Present address (last 6 months) and permanent address
If a blood relative already holds an ST certificate, you can provide their certificate details as supporting proof: certificate number, date of issue, issuing authority, and relationship (father, real brother, real sister, paternal uncle, nephew, niece, or others). This helps establish tribal lineage clearly during verification.
If you or your family migrated from another state, a migration certificate is required with the certificate number, date, state of origin, and year of migration.
How to Apply Online for an ST Certificate in West Bengal
You can apply for a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate online through the official West Bengal Caste Certificate Portal. Before starting the application, keep your Aadhaar card, Voter ID (EPIC), passport-size photograph, address details, and the names and addresses of two local referees ready. If a close blood relative already holds an ST certificate or your family has migrated from another state, keep those details available as well.
- Visit the official West Bengal Caste Certificate Portal and open the SC/ST menu.
- Click on Apply for SC/ST to open the online application form.
- Select your District, Sub-Division, Block, and Gram Panchayat (GP) or Ward according to your place of residence.
- Under Application For, choose Scheduled Tribe (ST).
- Select your tribe from the Tribe/Community dropdown exactly as it appears in the official Scheduled Tribe list.
- Enter your personal details, including your full name, father's or mother's name, gender, mobile number, email address (if available), and other required information.
- Provide the details of at least one accepted identity document, such as your Aadhaar card, Voter ID (EPIC), or Khadya Sathi ration card.
- Enter your date of birth, place of birth, present address, permanent address, police station, and other residential details.
- Provide the names and addresses of two local referees, as these are mandatory for the verification process.
- If your father, mother, brother, sister, or another eligible blood relative already possesses an ST certificate, enter their certificate details. If your family migrated from another state, provide the migration certificate details, wherever applicable.
- Upload your recent passport-size photograph in the prescribed format and verify that all the information entered is correct.
- Click Submit and save the acknowledgement or application number for future reference. You can later use this number to track the application status and download your digitally signed ST certificate after approval.
After submission, the application is verified by the concerned authorities through document scrutiny and field verification. Once approved by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), the digitally signed ST certificate becomes available for download from the official portal.
How to Apply for an ST Certificate at Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK)
If you do not have internet access or need assistance with the online application, you can apply for an ST certificate through your nearest Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK). These government-authorised citizen service centres are available across West Bengal to help residents access various online government services.
Before visiting a BSK, carry your Aadhaar card, Voter ID or another accepted identity document, a recent passport-size photograph, your address details, and the names and addresses of two local referees. If applicable, also carry the details of a blood relative's ST certificate or your migration certificate.
- Visit your nearest Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK).
- Inform the operator that you want to apply for a Scheduled Tribe (ST) Certificate.
- Provide all the required personal, address, and tribal community details.
- Submit your identity proof, photograph, and other supporting information for online entry.
- The BSK operator will complete and submit your application through the official West Bengal Caste Certificate Portal.
- After successful submission, collect the acknowledgement slip or application number for future reference.
Your application is processed through the same verification procedure as online applications. After approval by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), you can use the application number to track the status and download your digitally signed ST certificate from the official portal.
Track and Download Your ST Certificate
Once you have submitted your application, you can use the online services available on the official West Bengal Caste Certificate Portal to check your application status, verify whether the certificate has been issued, download the digitally signed certificate, or reprint your acknowledgement slip.
- Application Check: View the current status of your ST certificate application and track its progress through the verification process.
- Check Certificate: Check whether your ST certificate has been approved and issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
- Download Certificate: Download the digitally signed ST certificate after it has been issued.
- Reprint Application / Acknowledgement Slip: Reprint your application form or acknowledgement slip if you have misplaced the original copy.
Keep your application number safely, as it is required to track your application, check the certificate status, and download the issued certificate from the portal.
Benefits of ST Certificate in West Bengal
- Reservation in West Bengal state government jobs under the ST quota
- 7.5% reservation in central government jobs and central educational institutions nationally
- Reserved seats in government colleges, universities, and professional courses in West Bengal
- Pre-matric and post-matric tribal scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal
- 5 years age relaxation in state and central competitive examinations
- Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) admissions for ST children
- Additional targeted support for Lodha, Birhor, and Toto PVTG communities under special schemes
- Rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006 for tribal families in forest areas
- Access to ST welfare schemes run by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
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