If you belong to an OBC, BC, or EBC community in Bihar and need a backward class certificate, the first thing you must understand is that Bihar issues two completely different certificates under this category. Which one you need depends entirely on what you are applying for. Using the wrong certificate for the wrong purpose is one of the most common mistakes that leads to application rejection in Bihar.
Both certificates are issued through the same portal and the same Circle Officer, but they are built on different legal frameworks, have different forms, and are valid for different purposes. This guide explains both clearly so you apply for the right one from the start.
Two Types of Backward Class Certificates in Bihar
Type 1: OBC Non-Creamy Layer Certificate for Central Government
This certificate is officially called the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Praman Patra for Government of India purposes. You need this when you are applying for central government jobs (UPSC, railways, banks, SSC, defence, central PSUs), seats in central educational institutions (IITs, NITs, AIIMS, central universities), or central government scholarships. Your caste must be in the Central OBC List for Bihar, which has around 132 entries. This certificate is available at three levels: Circle Officer, Sub-Divisional Officer, and District Magistrate.
Type 2: BC/EBC Non-Creamy Layer Certificate for Bihar State Government
This is the BC (Backward Class) or EBC (Extremely Backward Class) Non-Creamy Layer Praman Patra for Bihar State Government purposes. You need this when applying for Bihar state government jobs, BPSC exams, state police recruitment, state college admissions, and Bihar government scholarships. Bihar's state backward class list is different from the central OBC list. This certificate is available at only two levels: Circle Officer and Sub-Divisional Officer. There is no District Magistrate level for this certificate, unlike the central OBC certificate.
Many applicants apply for one type when they actually needed the other. Always check which specific certificate is required in the job notification or college prospectus before applying.
Creamy Layer: Applicable to Both Types
Both the OBC (GOI) certificate and the BC/EBC (Bihar State) certificate require you to be in the non-creamy layer to avail reservation benefits. The creamy layer income limit is Rs. 8 lakh per annum of parents' gross income from non-agricultural sources. Agricultural income from land owned by parents is excluded from this calculation.
Bihar's official RTPS rules also contain an important provision: once you hold a non-creamy layer certificate, you do not need to get it issued again every time for state government services. For Bihar state services, you can submit your existing non-creamy layer certificate along with a self-declaration undertaking (Form-XI) in place of applying fresh. This saves time for candidates who apply to multiple state vacancies.
Certificate Details at a Glance
| Detail | OBC NCL (Central Govt) | BC/EBC NCL (Bihar State) |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | UPSC, railways, central jobs, IITs/NITs | BPSC, Bihar police, state jobs, state colleges |
| Forms needed | Form-VI, Form-VIII (affidavit), Form-VII | Form-IX, Form-XI (affidavit), Form-X |
| Issuing authority | Circle Officer (primary) | Circle Officer (primary) |
| Levels available | Circle, Sub-division, District | Circle and Sub-division only |
| Timeline | 10 working days | 10 working days |
| Fee | Free | Free |
| Creamy layer | Applies (Rs. 8 lakh limit) | Applies (Rs. 8 lakh limit) |
Documents Required for Both Types
- Aadhaar Card for identity verification
- Proof that your caste is in the OBC/BC/EBC list: old OBC or caste certificate of your father, school record showing community, or any government document mentioning your caste
- Ration Card for family and address proof
- Income Certificate of parents showing annual income is within the non-creamy layer limit
- Birth certificate or school leaving certificate
- Passport-size Photograph
- Self-declaration affidavit (Form-VIII for OBC GOI certificate, Form-XI for BC/EBC Bihar State certificate) declaring your caste and income status
How to Apply Online
Both certificate types are applied through serviceonline.bihar.gov.in. Bihar offers two online application routes:
Route 1: Apply with Login
- Visit serviceonline.bihar.gov.in and register or log in.
- From the Left Menu, go to the relevant service: either OBC (NCL for GOI) or BC/EBC (NCL for Bihar State).
- Click Apply for Service and fill the detailed application form. Enter your caste name exactly as it appears in the Central OBC List or Bihar state BC/EBC list.
- Upload your photo via webcam or file browser.
- Verify your Aadhaar using OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Attach the required forms (Form-VII or Form-X as applicable along with the self-affidavit).
- Submit and download your Acknowledgement with the application number.
- Once approved, the certificate appears in your portal Inbox. You can also download it via the Track Application Status page, receive it as an email attachment, get a download link by SMS, or access it on DigiLocker.
Route 2: Apply Without Login (Direct Link)
Bihar also allows you to apply without creating an account using a direct service link. This is useful if you do not want to register on the portal. With this option, you fill and submit the form directly, receive your acknowledgement, and get the certificate via SMS link, email attachment, or DigiLocker after approval. You can also collect it at the RTPS counter.
How to Apply Through RTPS Counter (Offline)
You can apply at the RTPS counter at your panchayat, block, circle, sub-division, or district office. The Executive Assistant (Karyapalak Sahayak) at the counter enters your application online, takes your photo at the counter, verifies your Aadhaar OTP on your mobile, and gives you an acknowledgement slip. After the Circle Officer processes the application, you collect the certificate at the RTPS counter or download it online.
For the BC/EBC Bihar State certificate, note that the District Magistrate level is not available. If you apply at Circle level and need it countersigned at a higher level, go to the Sub-Divisional Officer only.
How You Receive Your Certificate
Once the Circle Officer issues your backward class certificate, you can receive and download it through any of the following methods confirmed by Bihar's official system:
- SMS link: A download link is sent directly to your registered mobile number
- Email attachment: The signed certificate is sent as an attachment to your registered email
- DigiLocker: The certificate is pushed to your DigiLocker account automatically
- Track Application Status: Download from the tracking page on the portal using your application number
- Portal Inbox: Available in your account inbox if you applied with login
- RTPS Counter: Collect a physical printout from the counter where you applied
If the Certificate Is Not Issued Within 10 Days
Under the Bihar RTPS Act, the Circle Officer must issue the backward class certificate within 10 working days. If this deadline is not met, file an appeal at rtpsappeal.bihar.gov.in. The Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) must respond to the appeal within 15 working days, and the District Magistrate (DM) must respond within 15 working days at the review stage.
Benefits of Backward Class Certificate in Bihar
- OBC reservation (27%) in central government jobs and central educational institutions using the OBC GOI certificate
- BC/EBC reservation in Bihar state government jobs and state college admissions using the Bihar State certificate
- Pre-matric and post-matric backward class scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal
- 3 years age relaxation in central competitive examinations and Bihar state exams
- Access to OBC welfare schemes run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Access to loan schemes from the National Backwards Classes Finance and Development Corporation
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