Documents Required for Reservation or Category Certificates during CLAT Exam Counseling

Reservation or Category Certificates
During the CLAT exam counseling process, candidates belonging to reserved categories are required to provide certain documents to claim their reservation or category benefits. These certificates serve as proof of their eligibility and help in the verification process. Some of the common reservation or category certificates required during CLAT counseling include:

1. Caste Certificate:
- Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backward Classes (OBC) need to provide a valid caste certificate.
- The caste certificate should be issued by the competent authority and mention the candidate's caste, community, and the fact that they belong to a reserved category.
- The certificate should generally be issued by a Revenue Officer, Tehsildar, or District Magistrate.

2. Income Certificate:
- Candidates applying under the economically weaker sections (EWS) category need to provide a valid income certificate.
- The income certificate should be issued by the competent authority and state that the candidate's family income falls within the prescribed limits to claim EWS reservation.
- The certificate is usually issued by a Revenue Officer, Tehsildar, or District Magistrate.

3. Disability Certificate:
- Candidates with disabilities who wish to avail themselves of reservation benefits need to provide a disability certificate.
- The disability certificate should be issued by a competent medical authority and mention the candidate's percentage of disability.
- It should clearly state the type of disability and its impact on the candidate's ability to study or appear for the examination.

4. Domicile Certificate:
- Some state universities participating in the CLAT exam may have reservation quotas for candidates belonging to the respective state.
- In such cases, candidates need to provide a valid domicile certificate to prove their eligibility for reservation under the state quota.
- The domicile certificate should be issued by the relevant state authority and establish the candidate's permanent residence in that state.

5. Other Certificates:
- Depending on the specific reservation or category claimed by the candidate, additional certificates may be required.
- For example, candidates applying for seats reserved for children of defense personnel may need to provide a certificate issued by the appropriate defense authority.
- Similarly, candidates seeking reservation under the sports quota may need to provide certificates related to their sports achievements.

It is important for candidates to ensure that they have the necessary documents ready in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles during the counseling process. These certificates play a crucial role in determining a candidate's eligibility for reservation benefits and must be authentic and valid.