How to get a general category certificate?

There is no category certificate required for the general category applicants.

NEET Category Certificate for OBC, SC, ST and EWS, Check How to Obtain Category Certificate for NEET 2025 -

Q: Is caste certificate required for NEET registration 2025?

Absolutely yes! Candidates must possess a category certificate to complete the NEET application form 2025. Applicants from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories must provide their caste certificate number, the issuance date of the caste certificate for NEET 2025, and the name of the issuing authority.

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The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2025 application process is ongoing from February 07 till March 07, 2025. While filling the NEET UG application form, students are required to enter their social category like General/UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, etc. Apart from the general category candidates, every other candidate should possess their category certificate for NEET UG exam during the registration process.

Category Certificate for NEET

The Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2025 is an essential document for applicants from the reserved category. The admission reservation policy for MBBS and BDS programs is applicable to GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, ST, SC, and PwBD categories. Candidates in these categories must submit their respective certificates to secure seats in Medical and Dental Programs.

Until 2023, candidates were required to submit a Category Certificate for NEET Registration which is not the norm now. According to the NEET 2025 Information Bulletin, the category certificate must be submitted only during the NEET counselling process and not during the registration for the NEET UG 2025 Exam. Continue reading to learn about the guidelines issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the NEET category certificate 2025 category-wise.

What is NEET Category Certificate?

A NEET category certificate is a government-issued document that confirms a person’s caste or social category. This certificate is necessary to access the advantages linked to the reservation system in NEET UG. The caste certificate for NEET 2025 acts as evidence that the applicant is part of a specific caste, and depending on this

In this document, candidates might qualify for advantages such as a lower minimum qualifying score, reserved seats, and additional concessions during the NEET admission procedure. The NEET category certificate is relevant for the following categories:

EWS – For candidates from the general Caste who come from economically weaker backgrounds.
OBC – For candidates from communities recognised as socially and educationally backward.
SC – For candidates from historically disadvantaged castes.
ST – For candidates from tribal communities

Is Category Certificate for NEET UG 2025 Mandatory During Registration

This year, candidates will need to indicate their category by selecting the correct option, and no supporting documents are necessary to be uploaded during the application process. Applicants from SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories must provide their caste certificate number, the issuance date of the caste certificate for NEET 2025, and the name of the issuing authority.

Applicants must upload scanned images of their passport-sized photo, postcard-sized photograph, thumbprint, and signature, but caste certificates are not required to be uploaded.

Types of Category Certificate for NEET UG Exam

As per latest NEET information bulletin, There are different types of category certificate that can be used for admission through NEET UG exam. The detailed overview of the different types of NEET UG category certificates is given below.

EWS Category Certificate for NEET

This certificate is for individuals belonging to the general Caste who are categorized as Economically Weaker Sections. Candidates from the EWS category receive a 10% reservation of seats in every course in NEET. The EWS certificate for NEET must be provided by the government of the relevant state or union territory and must meet certain income and asset requirements.

OBC NCL Certificate for NEET

This NEET OBC certificate is intended for applicants belonging to the Other Backward Classes. OBC candidates receive a reservation of 27% of available seats in each course for the NEET exam. It designates the candidate as part of a group deemed socially and economically disadvantaged by the government. Candidates need to be qualified under the “non-creamy layer” classification to access the benefits.

SC/ST Certificate for NEET UG

This certificate is granted to candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In NEET 2025, SC students are allocated a 15% reservation of seats in all courses, while ST candidates have 7.5% of seats reserved for them. This certificate confirms that the individual belongs to a specific caste or tribe acknowledged by the Government of India.

General Process to Obtain Category Certificate for NEET 2025

Acquiring a category certificate for NEET 2025 involves multiple steps and may vary slightly based on the state or union territory. Nonetheless, the overall procedure for acquiring a NEET Caste certificate in 2025 is as outlined –

Prior to applying for a caste certificate, verify that the applicant falls under one of the categories acknowledged by the government (SC, ST, OBC, EWS).
Collect all essential documents needed to obtain a caste certificate for NEET 2025, including identification proof, residency proof, and any additional documents mandated by the state’s officials.
Complete the NEET caste certificate application form, available from the local district office, the revenue department, or online through the state government portal.
Send the properly completed application form for the NEET caste certificate along with the necessary documents to the local government office (such as the Tehsildar or District Magistrate’s office) or submit it online via the state government’s website.
The officials will review the provided documents and might request further information if needed at a time.
Once verified, the authorities provide the caste certificate for NEET.

How to Obtain GEN/EWS Certificate for NEET 2025

A GEN-EWS Category Certificate remains valid for one year, with renewals conducted each year by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Therefore, it is mandatory to provide the most recent GEN-EWS Category Certificate during the NEET counselling process.

Several reports indicate that GEN-EWS certificates submitted post-NEET results will be considered invalid. Consequently, students are encouraged to update their certificates by April 2025 or at any point prior to the announcement of the NEET UG 2025 Result.

How to Get OBC NCL Certificate for NEET 2025

Like the GEN-EWS certificate, students from the Other Backward Class – Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) must provide their most recent category certificate during the online counselling event held at mcc.nic.in. The date for issuing certificates for General category students in the EWS category is April 2025. The subsequent authorized entities are permitted to authenticate this certificate:

District Magistrate/ Additional Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/ Additional Deputy Commissioner/ Deputy Collector/ Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional magistrate/ Taluka Magistrate/ Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner (not lower than the rank of Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate).
Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate / Chief Presidency Magistrate / Presidency Magistrate/ Revenue Officer not lower than the rank of Tehsildar and Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the applicant’s family resides.

How to Obtain SC/ST Certificate for NEET 2025

The NEET certificate for the SC/ST category must be provided by the Government of India. Since these certificates aren’t renewed every year, candidates can use their current caste certificates throughout the counselling procedure. Students must recognize that SC and ST category certificates are deemed valid only when issued by the relevant authorities.

District Magistrate / Collector / Deputy Commissioner /Executive Magistrate / Additional District Magistrate/ Additional Deputy Commissioner / City Magistrate/ Deputy Collector / Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate / Taluka Magistrate /Sub-Divisional Magistrate / Extra Assistant Commissioner.
Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate / Chief Presidency Magistrate / Presidency Magistrate.
Revenue Officers whose rank is not lower than the rank of a Tehsildar.
Sub-divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/ or his family normally reside(s).
Administrator / Secretary to Administrator / Development Officer (Lakshadweep Island).

Documents Required for NEET category Certificate

The necessary documents for acquiring a NEET Caste certificate are as follows –

Identity cards issued by the government, such as Aadhaar card, voter ID, or passport.
Ration card, electricity bill, or bank statement to verify that the applicant resides in the state.
Certificate of birth
Records such as income tax returns, pay stubs, and an employer-issued certificate confirming income is needed for EWS applicants.
Passport-sized images

Validity Period of NEET Category Certificate

The Category Certificate is mandatory for NEET Registration 2025 and they must acquire a caste certificate before the NEET application form deadline. Applicants from the GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL categories must submit the most recent category certificates issued in April 2025. Nonetheless, the SC/ST certificate lacks a validity period and is valid for lifetime in most cases.

Which Category Certificate is Required for NEET: Central or State?

To register for the NEET exam, it is necessary to submit the caste certificate provided by the state government where you reside. This is essential because, for the NEET UG, only caste certificates issued by state governments serve as valid evidence for the reservation category. Candidates should be aware that the central Caste Certificate is not valid for NEET. Therefore, ensure to attach your state-level caste certificate when completing your NEET application.

Important Points Related to Category Certificate for NEET

Some important points that students should pay attention to for the NEET category certificate is listed below.

The NEET caste certificate must be genuine and provided by the relevant authorities. Any inconsistency may lead to the cancellation of the candidate’s NEET 2025 application or enrollment.
OBC candidates should verify that they are part of the non-creamy layer. This indicates that their household income must not go beyond a specified threshold according to the most recent government regulations.
Caste certificates for NEET are typically valid for a specific duration. Applicants must verify that their certificate is current prior to including it in their NEET application. The EWS certificate for NEET is only valid for a single year.