How to Get a Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2024

Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2024 is a mandatory document for candidates who are applying from the reserved category. The reservation policy for Admission into MBBS and BDS courses is valid for GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, ST, SC and PwBD categories. Candidates belonging to these categories are required to provide their respective certificates to ensure seats in Medical and Dental Courses. 

Till 2023, aspirants had to upload a Category Certificate for NEET Registration, however as per the NEET 2024 Information Bulletin, a category certificate has to be provided during NEET counselling processonly and not during the registration process of the NEET UG 2024 Exam. This year, aspirants will have to mark their category by simply ticking the appropriate option, and no documents regarding the same are required to be uploaded during the application process. Candidates are required to upload scanned copies of their passport-size photo, postcard-size photograph, thumb impression, and signature, but not caste certificates.

NEET 2024 registration began on February 9 and the last date to submit information and upload Documents Required for NEET 2024 Application Form is March 9, 2024. Keep reading to know the guidelines released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for each category’s certificate.

Validity of Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2024

Although a Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2024 is not a requirement this year but aspirants still need to obtain a caste certificate as it will be required during the time of admission. GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL category applicants are required to provide the latest category certificates issued in April 2024. However, there is no validity or issuance date for the SC/ST certificate. Below are the names of the authorities authorized to validate the category certificates of the applicants.

1. SC/ST Certificate

The SC/ST category certificate for NEET must be issued by the Government of India. As these certificates are not renewed annually, aspirants can utilize their existing caste certificates during the counselling process. Students need to understand that SC and ST category certificates are only considered valid if they are issued by the following concerned 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).

Note: SC/ST certificate issued by any other Authority will be rejected during the counselling process.

2. GEN-EWS Category Certificate

The validity of a GEN-EWS Category Certificate is one year, and these certificates are renewed annually by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Consequently, it is obligatory to furnish the latest GEN-EWS Category Certificate during the NEET counselling sessions.

According to several reports, GEN-EWS certificates submitted after the release of NEET results will be deemed invalid. Therefore, students are advised to renew their certificates by April 2024 or any time before the release of the NEET UG 2024 Result.

3. OBC-NCL Category Certificate

Similar to the GEN-EWS certificate, students belonging to the Other Backward Class - Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) are required to submit the latest category certificate during the online counselling session conducted at mcc.nic.in. The issuance date for certificates of General category students belonging to the EWS category is April 2024. The following competent authorities are eligible to validate 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

Also Read: NEET 2024 Application Fee and Payment Methods

Guidelines for Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2024

While filling out the NEET Application Form 2024, candidates should follow the instructions for each category certificate provided below.

• GEN-EWS Category Certificate for NEET: 10% of seats are reserved in every course under NEET 2024 for this category. Hence, students from the General category students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sector (EWS) must provide a GEN-EWS category certificate issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 
• OBC-NCL Category Certificate for NEET: Students belonging to the Other Back Class belonging to Non-Creamy Layer have 27% seats in every course offered through the NEET UG 2024 Exam. Candidates must go through the guidelines at ncbc.nic.in for the latest guidelines, as names of the applicants must be listed on NCBC’s official website.
• SC/ST Category Certificate for NEET: Seats reserved for SC and ST categories in NEET 2024 are 15% and 7.5% in every course offered. Applicants should possess a valid SC/ST certificate issued by an officer whose rank is not lower than a Tehsildar.
• Category Certificate for Persons with Disability (PwBD): Aspirants applying for PwBD seats must download the Disability Certificate for NEET Registration 2024 from the information brochure. The certificate has to be attested by the designated government hospitals for each state.

The self-declared category certificate for NEET Registration 2024 PDF was made available till 2023. This year onwards, students will not have to provide the certificate during the NEET Registration 2024. The category certificate submitted during the counselling session will be reviewed thoroughly, and if it does follow the NTA’s guidelines, the category of the applicants will be changed to the General Category. Hence, students are advised to follow these guidelines to avoid the rejection of Caste or Category certification during NEET admission.

Related Links: 

7 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid During NEET 2024 Preparation	Dos and Don’ts for NEET 2024
What is a Good Score in NEET UG 2024?	NEET UG 2024 Exam Day Instructions

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