SC/ST/OBC/EWS Category Certificate for JoSAA 2026

JoSAA 2026 uses category-based reservation as mandated by the Government of India: SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC-NCL (27%), EWS (10%), and PwD (5% horizontal). Each category requires a specific certificate to avail reservation benefits. The most critical requirement: OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be from the current financial year — old certificates are not accepted.

Common mistakes: (1) Using an old OBC certificate from a previous year — get a fresh one. (2) Using a state OBC certificate for central institutions — get Central OBC format. (3) Not getting EWS certificate before JoSAA registration — get it as early as possible. (4) Missing the 'Non-Creamy Layer' mention in OBC certificate. (5) Caste certificate spelling not matching Class 10 records. Ensure all certificates have consistent name spelling.

This is the most misunderstood aspect: NITs, IITs, and IIITs are central government institutions and follow the Central OBC list (maintained by NCBC — National Commission for Backward Classes). Many states have communities in their state OBC list that are NOT in the central OBC list. If your community is only on the state list, you CANNOT claim OBC-NCL reservation at central institutions.

To verify: Check the NCBC website (ncbc.nic.in) to see if your community is in the Central OBC list for your state. If yes, get a certificate specifically mentioning the community name as per Central OBC list. If not, you will be treated as OPEN/General at NITs/IITs — plan your JoSAA choices accordingly with General category cutoffs.