OBC Certificate Bihar is a part of Bihar’s RTPS system — see the complete RTPS guide for how application status, verification, and the RTPS numbering (RTPS 1/2/3/4) actually work.
Bihar issues two different backward-class certificates, and using the wrong one is one of the most common reasons applications get rejected. If you’re applying for a central government job or institution (UPSC, SSC, Railways, IITs, NITs), you need the OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate for the Government of India. If you’re applying for a Bihar state job or to a Bihar state institution (BPSC, state colleges), you need the BC/EBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate for Bihar State. Both are issued through the same portal, serviceonline.bihar.gov.in, but they’re genuinely different documents. This guide covers both, clearly, so you apply for the right one the first time.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Certificate Types | OBC-NCL (Central) and BC/EBC-NCL (Bihar State) — two separate documents |
| OBC Full Form | Other Backward Caste |
| Issuing Portal | serviceonline.bihar.gov.in (RTPS) |
| Income Limit (Creamy Layer) | Below ₹8 lakh/year, non-agricultural income |
| Central Certificate Validity | 1 year from issue date |
| State Certificate Validity | 3 years from issue date |
| Extra Requirement | Form VIII or XI (self-declaration, signed by applicant) |
Central vs State — Which Certificate Do You Actually Need?
This single decision is where most applicants go wrong, so let’s be direct about it.
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Certificate — for Government of India purposes Use this if you’re applying for:
- Central government jobs — UPSC, SSC, Railways, Banking (IBPS), Defence, central PSUs
- Central educational institutions — IITs, NITs, AIIMS, central universities
- Any central government scheme or scholarship
BC/EBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Certificate — for Bihar State Government purposes Use this if you’re applying for:
- BPSC and other Bihar state government jobs
- Bihar state college and university admissions
- Any Bihar state government scheme
Why Bihar has this extra layer that many other states don’t: Bihar splits its backward classes into two tiers — BC (Backward Class), which gets a 12% reservation quota, and EBC (Extremely Backward Class), a more disadvantaged sub-group that gets a separate, larger 18% quota. The central government’s OBC list doesn’t make this BC/EBC distinction at all — it’s specifically a Bihar state classification. So your caste might be categorized as “EBC” for a Bihar state application, while the same caste falls under the general “OBC” umbrella for a central application.
Worth knowing if you’re applying outside Bihar: an OBC-NCL certificate issued in Bihar is generally understood to apply within Bihar and for central-level purposes, but it isn’t automatically valid for claiming OBC benefits under a different state’s own list — each state maintains its own backward classes list for state-level purposes. If you’re applying somewhere outside Bihar for a state-specific benefit, check that state’s own requirements rather than assuming your Bihar certificate transfers directly.
Eligibility & Income Limit
Both certificates share the same core income condition:
- Your family’s annual income from non-agricultural sources must be under ₹8 lakh — this is the “creamy layer” threshold. Above this, you’re considered outside the reservation category regardless of caste.
- You must belong to a caste listed under the relevant OBC (central) or BC/EBC (Bihar state) list — these lists aren’t identical, so it’s worth confirming your specific caste’s classification under both before assuming they match.
Documents Required
- Caste Certificate: showing your OBC/BC/EBC caste category
- Income Certificate: showing family income under ₹8 lakh
- Residential/Domicile Certificate: Proof that you are a permanent resident of Bihar
- Aadhaar Card: with mobile number linked
- Form VIII (For Central)/ Form XI(For Bihar State) — a separate self-declaration form, signed by the applicant/parents
- Land/property documents (Khatian/LPC) (Optional): to confirm you’re within the asset limits above.
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature: (JPEG format, typically under 300KB for upload)
Scan these documents and save them in PDF/JPEG format so that they can be easily uploaded to the portal.
How to Apply for OBC (NCL) Certificate Online
- Go to serviceonline.bihar.gov.in.
- Log in via OTP, or register first if you’re a new user.
- Go to Apply Online → RTPS Services → General Administration Department.
- Select the certificate you actually need:
“Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for Government of India Purpose)” — for the central certificate
“Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for Bihar Government Purpose)” — for the state certificate - Choose RO Level Government of India or RO Level Bihar State certificate 1st.
- Fill in your personal details, parents’ details (name, employment, income), address, and caste — exactly as they appear on your Aadhaar.
- Verify via Aadhaar OTP.
- Upload all required documents listed above.
- Submit and save your application reference number.
The certificate is issued free of charge through the RTPS portal — you shouldn’t be asked to pay anything beyond the standard nominal RTPS processing fee.
Note: To apply OBC Certificate for Bihar State at SDO level or OBC Certificate for Government of India at SDO level, you must have RO level certificate as you will be asked for Certificate No. issued from RO level.
To apply OBC Certificate for Bihar State at DM level or OBC Certificate for Government of India at DM level you must have either RO level certificate or SDO level certificate, as you will be asked for Certificate No. issued from RO/SDO level.
If you’d rather apply in person, the same form is available at your local RTPS counter or Common Service Centre (CSC) — useful if you’re not confident filling in fields correctly online, since staff there can help you get the numbers right the first time.
Validity — and Why It’s Different for Each
- State (BC/EBC) certificate: valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
- Central (OBC-NCL) certificate: valid for only 1 year from the date of issue, and for most central exam applications, it needs to be less than 12 months old at the time you apply — not just “still within a year of issue” loosely interpreted.
Because of this shorter central validity, it’s common to need a fresh OBC-NCL certificate almost every year if you’re actively applying to multiple central exams or jobs across different cycles — don’t assume last year’s certificate still works for this year’s application without checking the date carefully.
Checking Status & Downloading Your Certificate
- Go to serviceonline.bihar.gov.in and select “Track Application Status.”
- Enter your application reference number.
- Your current stage — pending, under verification, or ready — shows immediately.
- Once approved, go to Download Certificate
- Enter your reference number and name, complete the captcha, and download the PDF.
Keep both a digital and printed copy — most application portals for jobs and exams ask you to upload the certificate as a PDF, but a physical copy is worth having for in-person verification steps too.
Important Links (Official Only)
As the Bihar RTPS system issues two different OBC (NCL) certificates, two separate tables are required to cover the important links: one for the Government of India OBC (NCL) Certificate and another for the Bihar State OBC (NCL) Certificate.
OBC (NLC) Certificate for the Government of India
| Service | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| OBC Certificate (Central) — Revenue Officer (RO)/Block Level | Apply OBC for Government of India RO Level |
| OBC Certificate (Central) — Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Level | Apply OBC for Government of India SDO Level |
| OBC Certificate (Central) — District Magistrate (DM) Level | Apply OBC for Government of India DM Level |
| Self-declaration form (Central OBC) — Form VIII | Download Self-declaration form (Central OBC) |
| Check Application Status | Check Application Status → Track Application |
| Download OBC Certificate | Download Certificate |
| Official Site | serviceonline.bihar.gov.in |
| RTPS Appeal (if delayed) | rtpsappeal.bihar.gov.in |
OBC (NCL) Certificate for Bihar State
| Service | Direct Link |
|---|---|
| OBC Certificate (Bihar) — Revenue Officer (RO)/Block Level | Apply OBC for Bihar State RO Level |
| OBC Certificate (Bihar) — Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Level | Apply OBC for Bihar State SDO Level |
| OBC Certificate (Bihar) — District Magistrate (DM) Level | Apply OBC for Bihar State DM Level |
| Self-declaration form (Bihar OBC) — Form XI | Download Self-declaration form (Bihar OBC) |
| Check Application Status | Check Application Status →Tract Application |
| Download OBC Certificate | Download Certificate |
| Official Site | serviceonline.bihar.gov.in |
| RTPS Appeal (if delayed) | rtpsappeal.bihar.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
बिहार में OBC में कौन-कौन सी जाति आती है?
यह इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि आप केंद्र सरकार की OBC सूची देख रहे हैं या बिहार राज्य की BC/EBC सूची — दोनों सूचियाँ अलग हैं। अपनी जाति की सही श्रेणी आवेदन से पहले serviceonline.bihar.gov.in पर या संबंधित सूची में जाँच लें।
OBC और EBC में क्या अंतर है?
EBC (Extremely Backward Class) बिहार की अपनी वर्गीकरण व्यवस्था के तहत OBC/BC का ही एक अधिक पिछड़ा उप-समूह है, जिसे 18% आरक्षण मिलता है, जबकि सामान्य BC को 12%। केंद्र सरकार की सूची में यह EBC वर्गीकरण मौजूद नहीं है।
How do I apply for an OBC certificate in Bihar?
Through serviceonline.bihar.gov.in under RTPS Services → General Administration Department, select either the Central (Government of India) or State (Bihar Government) Non-Creamy Layer certificate option based on your actual need.
What is the income limit for OBC certificate in Bihar?
Below ₹8 lakh per year from non-agricultural sources, for both the central and state certificates.
Is the OBC certificate validity 3 years in Bihar?
Only the state-issued BC/EBC certificate is valid for 3 years. The central OBC-NCL certificate is valid for just 1 year.
What is Form XI in OBC certificate application?
A separate self-declaration form, signed by the applicant and parents, often required fresh for specific exam or job applications alongside your NCL certificate — it’s not a one-time document like the certificate itself.
Can I use a Bihar-issued OBC-NCL certificate in another state?
Generally, it applies within Bihar and for central-level purposes, but it isn’t automatically valid for a different state’s own OBC benefits — each state maintains its own list, so check the specific state’s requirements if applying outside Bihar.
Conclusion
The single most important decision here is picking Central or State at the very start of your application — get that wrong, and you’ll likely need to reapply from scratch. Keep the income limit, the different validity periods, and the Form VIII (for Central) and Form XI (for Bihar State) requirements in mind, and double-check your certificate’s issue date before relying on it for a Central exam application specifically.
Disclaimer: This guide is compiled from official Bihar government sources and verified public information for reader awareness. Hind Yojna is an independent platform and not affiliated with the Government of Bihar. Eligibility criteria, income limits, and processes may change — always confirm current details on the official portal before applying.
The founder and author of Hind Yojna. He researches and writes easy-to-understand articles on Central and State Government schemes, public services, official documents, and citizen welfare programs. His focus is on providing accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information from official government sources to help readers access government services with confidence.