An SC (Scheduled Caste) Certificate in Goa is an official document issued by the Revenue Department of the Government of Goa to certify that a person belongs to a Scheduled Caste community recognised for the State under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. In Goa, only five communities are notified as Scheduled Castes - Bhangi (Hadi), Chambhar, Mahar, Mahyavanshi (Vankar), and Mang. This certificate enables eligible individuals to claim reservation benefits in government employment, educational institutions, scholarships, and various welfare schemes meant for Scheduled Castes.
In Goa, the Deputy Collector / Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO/SDM) is the competent authority responsible for issuing the SC certificate. Eligible applicants can submit their application online through the official Goa Online Portal or apply offline by visiting the Deputy Collector / SDM office having jurisdiction over their place of residence. One of the most important eligibility requirements is proving that the applicant's family was residing in Goa before 19 February 1968, the date from which the Presidential Order recognising Scheduled Castes for Goa became applicable.
SC Communities Notified for Goa
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 (Part XXII) recognises only the following five communities as Scheduled Castes for the State of Goa:
- Bhangi (Hadi)
- Chambhar
- Mahar
- Mahyavanshi (Vankar)
- Mang
If you belong to any of the above communities and satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions, you can apply for an SC Certificate in Goa. Applicants belonging to communities that are not included in the official Scheduled Caste list for Goa are not eligible to receive this certificate, even if the same community is recognised as an SC in another State.
Who is Eligible to Apply for an SC Certificate in Goa?
You can apply for an SC Certificate in Goa only if you satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed by the Revenue Department. The certificate is issued only to genuine members of the Scheduled Caste communities notified for the State of Goa.
- Citizenship: You should be an Indian citizen.
- Scheduled Caste community: Your caste must be included in the list of Scheduled Caste communities notified specifically for the State of Goa under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950.
- Residence in Goa: You should ordinarily reside in Goa and apply before the competent authority having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
- Family linkage: You should be able to establish your family's Scheduled Caste status through documentary evidence. In most cases, applicants are required to show that their family was residing in Goa before 19 February 1968 or produce supporting records linking their father or paternal ancestors to a recognised Scheduled Caste community in Goa.
Documents Required for a New Goa SC Certificate
Keep the following documents ready before submitting your application. Providing complete and correct documents helps the Revenue Department verify your caste status and process your application without unnecessary delays.
- Birth Certificate of the applicant: Submit a self-attested copy of your Birth Certificate to establish your identity, age and parentage.
- Birth Certificate of your father or a paternal relative: A self-attested copy of your father's Birth Certificate or that of another close relative from your father's side helps establish your family's lineage.
- School Leaving Certificate or Bonafide Certificate: Submit a self-attested copy of your School Leaving Certificate or a Bonafide Certificate issued by your educational institution, wherever applicable.
- Proof of Scheduled Caste status of your family: Provide self-attested documents showing that your father, grandfather or another paternal ancestor belongs to a Scheduled Caste community recognised for Goa.
- Proof of family residence in Goa before 19 February 1968: Submit self-attested records establishing that you or your family was residing in Goa before the prescribed cut-off date. These records play an important role during verification.
- Self Declaration: Furnish the prescribed self-declaration form containing the information required by the Revenue Department.
- Samaj Certificate: Submit a self-attested copy of the Samaj Certificate issued by the recognised community or caste organisation confirming your community membership.
- Talathi's Report and Mamlatdar's Report: The original verification reports prepared by the Talathi and the concerned Mamlatdar are required as part of the official verification process before the certificate is issued.
- Marriage Certificate (if applicable): A married woman should submit a self-attested copy of her Marriage Certificate along with the application.
- Identity Proof: A self-attested copy of your Aadhaar Card, Voter ID Card, or any other identity document accepted by the competent authority may also be submitted, wherever applicable.
Important: An Income Certificate is not required for obtaining an SC Certificate in Goa. This requirement applies only to applications for an OBC Certificate.
What is a Samaj Certificate?
A Samaj Certificate is an official document issued by a recognised caste association or community organisation certifying that you belong to the Scheduled Caste community mentioned in your application. In Goa, this document is an important part of the caste verification process and must be submitted along with your application for a new SC Certificate.
Before applying, you should approach the authorised Samaj or community organisation representing your caste and obtain the certificate in the prescribed format. During verification, the Revenue Department considers the Samaj Certificate together with the Talathi's field enquiry report and the Mamlatdar's verification report to establish your community status before the Deputy Collector / SDM takes the final decision on issuing the SC Certificate.
How the Talathi and Mamlatdar Verify Your SC Certificate Application
Once you submit your application, the verification process moves through different revenue authorities before the SC Certificate is issued. Each authority has a specific role to ensure that the certificate is issued only to eligible applicants.
First, the Deputy Collector / Sub-Divisional Officer (SDM) forwards your application to the Talathi of the concerned area. The Talathi conducts a field enquiry by examining the documents submitted with the application and, wherever necessary, verifying the applicant's residence and community details. After completing the enquiry, the Talathi prepares a verification report and forwards it to the concerned Mamlatdar.
The Mamlatdar carefully examines the Talathi's findings and other supporting records before sending the case back to the Deputy Collector / SDM with the necessary recommendations. Based on these reports and the documents submitted by the applicant, the Deputy Collector / SDM takes the final decision on issuing the SC Certificate.
This multi-level verification process helps the Revenue Department confirm the applicant's eligibility and maintain the accuracy and authenticity of Scheduled Caste certificates issued in Goa.
How to Apply for a Goa SC Certificate Online
The Government of Goa allows eligible citizens to apply for an SC Certificate through the official Goa Online Portal. Before you begin, keep all the required documents scanned and ready so that you can complete the application without interruption.
Step 1: Open the Goa Online Portal
Visit the official Goa Online Portal. If you already have an account, sign in using your login credentials. If you are using the portal for the first time, complete the registration process by providing the required details and verifying your account.
Step 2: Select the SC Certificate Service
After logging in, open the list of services offered by the Revenue Department. Search for the Caste Certificate service and select it to open the online application form.
Step 3: Enter Your Personal Details
Carefully fill in all the information requested in the application form, such as your name, address, date of birth, Scheduled Caste community, family details and other required particulars. Make sure the information matches your supporting documents to avoid delays during verification.
Step 4: Upload the Required Documents
Upload clear, self-attested scanned copies of all the prescribed documents, including your Birth Certificate, your father's or paternal relative's Birth Certificate, School Leaving Certificate or Bonafide Certificate, Samaj Certificate, proof of your family's residence in Goa before 19 February 1968, Self Declaration and any other document applicable to your case.
Step 5: Review and Submit the Application
Before submitting the application, check every detail carefully. Confirm that all documents have been uploaded correctly and that there are no spelling mistakes or incorrect information. Once everything is verified, submit the application online and save the acknowledgement or reference number for future tracking.
Step 6: Revenue Department Verification
After your application is submitted, the Revenue Department begins the verification process. The application is forwarded to the concerned Talathi for field verification. The Talathi's report is then examined by the Mamlatdar before being placed before the Deputy Collector / SDM, who takes the final decision on issuing the SC Certificate.
How to Apply for a Goa SC Certificate Offline
If you are unable to apply online or prefer to submit your application in person, you can visit the office of the Deputy Collector / Sub-Divisional Officer (SDM) having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
Step 1: Collect the Application Form
Visit the Deputy Collector / SDM office during working hours and collect the prescribed SC Certificate application form. If the form is available online, you may download it in advance from the Goa Online Portal.
Step 2: Fill in the Application Form
Complete the application form carefully by entering all the required personal, family and community details. Write the information exactly as it appears in your supporting documents.
Step 3: Attach the Required Documents
Attach self-attested photocopies of all the prescribed documents, including your Birth Certificate, Samaj Certificate, proof of family residence before 19 February 1968, Self Declaration and any other supporting documents applicable to your case. Carry the original documents as they may be required for verification.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
Submit the completed application form along with all supporting documents at the Deputy Collector / SDM office. The receiving official will verify the documents and provide you with an acknowledgement or receipt containing your application reference number.
Step 5: Verification and Issue of Certificate
After submission, the application follows the same verification process as an online application. The Talathi conducts the necessary enquiry, the Mamlatdar examines the verification report, and the Deputy Collector / SDM issues the SC Certificate if all eligibility conditions and document requirements are satisfied.
Application Fee and Processing Time
You do not have to pay any Government fee for obtaining an SC Certificate in Goa. The Revenue Department issues the certificate free of cost to eligible applicants.
Under the Goa Right of Citizens to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services Act, 2013, the prescribed service delivery time for issuing an SC Certificate is 10 days, provided the application is complete and all required documents are submitted. During this period, the application is processed through different stages of verification, including scrutiny by the Talathi and the Mamlatdar, before the Deputy Collector / SDM takes the final decision on issuing the certificate.
If any document is missing or additional verification becomes necessary, the processing time may vary until the required information is furnished.
Why is 19 February 1968 Important for an SC Certificate in Goa?
While processing an SC Certificate application, the Revenue Department requires applicants to establish that their family was residing in Goa before 19 February 1968. This date is treated as an important reference while verifying the applicant's ancestral connection with Goa and the Scheduled Caste community recognised for the State.
To satisfy this requirement, applicants may be asked to produce historical records showing their family's residence in Goa before the prescribed date or documents linking their father, grandfather or other paternal ancestors with a Scheduled Caste community notified for Goa. These records are examined during the revenue verification process before the certificate is issued.
Official Portals and Useful Links
- Goa Online Portal – Apply online and access citizen services.
- Government of Goa
- Goa Right to Services Portal
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