EWS Certificate Application 2025: Complete Online Process and Required Documents for West Bengal Residents

EWS Certificate: The EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) certificate is a crucial document for candidates from the General Category in West Bengal, providing a 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. Since 2023, the application process has been made completely online. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for this certificate from the comfort of your home. In this article, we will discuss the complete step-by-step application process.

Eligibility for EWS Certificate

To avail the benefits of EWS reservation, an applicant must fulfil the following conditions:

• The applicant must belong to the General category.
• The annual family income must be less than ₹8 lakh.
• The family must not own 5 acres or more of agricultural land.
• The family must not own a residential flat or house of 1000 sq. ft. or more.
• The family must not own a residential plot of 100 sq. yards or more in a notified municipal area.
• The family must not own a residential plot of 200 sq. yards or more in areas outside the notified municipalities.

How to Apply Online

The application process is divided into a few simple steps. These are discussed in detail below:

Step 1: Accessing the Portal

First, you need to visit the official Caste Certificate portal of the West Bengal government. You can find the website by searching “Cast Certificate West Bengal” on Google and clicking the first link. On the homepage, click on the “Apply for EWS” option.

Step 2: Filling the Application Form

You need to fill in various details accurately in the application form.

• Personal Information: First, select whether you want a State or Central format certificate. Then, choose your district, subdivision, and block/municipality. Enter the applicant’s name, father’s name, mobile number, email ID, Aadhaar or Khadyasathi (Ration Card) number, date of birth, and place of birth.
• Address Details: Fill in your present and permanent addresses correctly. If both addresses are the same, simply click on the “Yes” option.
• Religion and References: Select your religion and gender. Then, provide the names and addresses of two responsible persons (References) from your locality.
• Income and Asset Details: Upload a passport-sized photograph of the applicant (under 100 KB). Next, provide accurate details of the income of yourself and your parents from all sources (e.g., salary, business, agriculture) for the previous financial year. Also, fill in the details of any agricultural land, residential flat, or plot owned by the family (if any).

Step 3: Required Documents

Certain important documents need to be uploaded or submitted along with the application form. A list is provided below:

• Applicant’s Aadhaar Card/Ration Card
• Voter and PAN cards of the applicant and their parents
• Proof of birth (Birth Certificate or Madhyamik Admit Card)
• Income Certificate from the BDO
• Domicile Certificate
• Land records (Parcha) or deed (if applicable)
• Caste-related certificate from Panchayat Pradhan or Chairman
• Self-Declaration Form (Annexure B)

Step 4: Final Submission

After filling all the information correctly, tick the boxes next to the documents you will be submitting and click the “Submit” button. Upon successful submission, you will get an option to download the application form, acknowledgement slip, and the Income and Asset form. Take a printout of these and submit them along with photocopies of all the mentioned documents at your local Block Office or the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer.