Assam Students To Get ST, ST, OBC Certificates Digitally Through Mission Bhumiputra Portal

New Delhi, 2 August 2022– Marking the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Government of Assam has launched the Mission Bhumiputra portal as a part of a new scheme to provide caste certificates online to the students, within a month of application. As a part of a special drive being conducted under the scheme, Class 10 and Class 12 applicants, belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (Hills) and Scheduled Tribe (Plains), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) categories, are eligible to apply for caste certificates. The scheme is being implemented by the department of Tribal Affairs (Plains) and Social Justice and Empowerment.

While launching the scheme at Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the initiative will simplify the otherwise inconvenient manual application process while ensuring transparency and elimination of the middlemen.

CM Samra also took to Twitter to post about the scheme – 

As part of our #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, we’ve launched #MissionBhumiputra, a landmark step to resolve issues faced by students in getting their caste certificates.

Eligible Class IX-XII students will now be able to download SC/ST/OBC certificates from https://t.co/jMWXbq3vZJ pic.twitter.com/lb5lxhnnBQ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 1, 2022

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – Important points about the new scheme for issuing of digitalised caste certificates in Assam

Name of the Scheme	Mission Bhumiputra
State	Assam
Implementing Body	Departments of Tribal Affairs (Plains) and Social Justice and Empowerment
Launching Date	1 August 2022
Application fee	Rs 30 per application
Eligibility	The applicant must be an Indian citizen as per the constitution of India.  She/he must be a permanent resident of Assam. She/he must belong to any one of the following categories – SC, ST (Hills), ST (Plains) or OBC/ MOBC.
Period time of issuing the certificate	30 days, if the inquiry is required, and extendable by another 15 days in exceptional cases with due justification.
Application link	bhumiputra.assam.gov.in

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – Application Process Under The Special Drive

CM Samra also mentioned the application process which will be followed under the Mission Bhumiputra for issuing caste certificates as per the special drive.

DC’s to provide caste certificate application forms to headmasters – 

• As per the official guidelines, from 8 August 2022 onwards, deputy commissioners (DCs) across Assam will give the format of applications for caste certificates to the headmasters of educational institutions and the latter will fill up and return the formats to the DCs. 
• The DCs will then forward the applications to the boards/authorities of the respective caste or tribe.
• Further, the DCs will convene a meeting with the boards to decide on the protocol for issuing caste certificates to the students. 
• In case of any doubt, the application may be sent for further verification. 

Issuance of caste certificates – 

• The certificates issued at the end of the process will be available in the digi locker under the IT Act with digital signature of the respective DC.
• Initially, the certificates will be distributed through the headmasters/ principals of the schools.

Note: The application process will also be opened for Class 8 students and for EWS category in the coming years.

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – No Question To Be Asked Regarding Nationality of the Applicants

While launching the scheme, CM Sarma assured that no question will be asked regarding the nationality of the applicants while issuing the caste certificates. Sarma made a similar statement while addressing a gathering on 20 July 2022, in response to complaints where regional applicants from Assam were asked for National Register of Citizens (NRC) documents by the deputy commissioners during the application process of caste certificates.

Note: As per the application portal, the Assam government has received 368 applications for scheduled caste certificates, 85 applications for OBC/MOBC certificates, 31 applications for scheduled tribe (plains) certificates and 3 applications for scheduled tribe (hills) certificates, till date.

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – How can students apply for caste certificate in Assam on their own?

Along with the application process which is being run under the special drive conducted for  Class 10 and Class 12 through their educational institutions, here is how the other applicants can apply for a caste certificate in the state of Assam through the portal – 

Step 1: Click on the Mission Bhumiputra Online Application Link 

Step 2: Now register by clicking on the ‘Login’ option

Step 3: Click on ‘New Account’

Step 4: After registration, login using your new username and password

Step 5: Now click on the ‘New Application’ option

Step 6: Fill up the application form with all required information carefully

Step 7: Upload the scanned copy of your documents

Step 8: Submit the application

Step 9: After successful submission, you will get an acknowledgement copy which must be saved for future reference

Note – A single application form will be used for all castes to ensure a uniform & simplified procedure for issuing caste certificates.

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – What is the eligibility criteria to apply for caste certificate in Assam?

To apply for a caste certificate through the Mission Bhumiputra Portal in Assam, an applicant must meet all these criteria:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen as per the constitution of India. 
• The applicant must be a permanent resident of Assam.
• The applicants must belong to any one of the following categories – SC, ST (Hills), ST (Plains) or OBC/MOBC.

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – What are the documents required to apply for caste certificate in Assam?

To successfully complete an application for a caste certificate through the portal, the applicant must upload the scanned copies of the following documents – 

1. Applicant’s Photo
2. Proof of Date of Birth (One of Birth Certificate/Aadhaar Card/PAN/Admit Card issued by any recognized board 
3. Proof of Residence (one of Permanent Resident Certificate/Aadhaar Card/EPIC/ Land Document/Electricity Bill/Ration Card of Applicant or Parent)
4. Caste Certificate of Father or Recommendation of authorised caste/tribe/community organization notified by State Govt.
5. Any other document (Voter List, Affidavit, Existing Caste Certificate, etc.)
6. Scanned Copy of the Application Form.

Note – By uploading her/his father’s caste certificate, an applicant can increase the possibility of the application acceptance.

Mission Bhumiputra Portal – FAQs

What is Mission Bhumiputra by Assam Government?

The government of Assam has launched the Mission Bhumiputra portal as a part of a new scheme on 1 August 2022, to provide digitalised caste certificates to the students within a month’s time. As a part of special drive, Class 10 and Class 12 applicants belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (Hills) and Scheduled Tribe (Plains), Other Backward Classes or More Other Backward Classes (MOBC) categories, are eligible to apply for the certificates. The scheme is being implemented by the departments of Tribal Affairs (Plains) and Social Justice and Empowerment.

Who is eligible to apply for the caste certificate in Assam through the Mission Bhumiputra portal?

To apply for a caste certificate in the state of Assam through the Mission Bhumiputra Portal the applicant must be an Indian citizen as per the constitution of India, she/ he must be a permanent resident of Assam and must belong to any one of the following category - SC, ST (Hills), ST (Plains) or OBC/ MOBC.

What is the application fee to apply for the caste certificate in Assam through the Mission Bhumiputra portal?

The application fee to apply for the caste certificate in Assam through the Mission Bhumiputra portal is Rs. 30 per application.

In order to successfully complete the application for caste certificate through the Mission Bhumiputra Portal, the applicant must upload the scanned copies of their photo, proof of date of birth (One of Birth Certificate/Aadhaar Card/PAN/Admit Card issued by any recognized board, proof of residence (one of Permanent Resident Certificate/Aadhaar Card/EPIC/Land Document/Electricity Bill/Ration Card of Applicant or Parent), caste certificate of father or recommendation of authorised caste/tribe/community organization notified by state govt., any other document (Voter List, Affidavit, Existing Caste Certificate, etc.) and scanned copy of the application form.