Which certificates expire, which do not, and the six-month rule institutions apply regardless.
Two of the four expire on a fixed schedule, two never do, and institutions apply their own recency rule on top. What to reapply for, and when.
Domicile and Caste certificates do not expire. Income and EWS certificates are tied to a financial year. An OBC non-creamy-layer certificate expires separately from the caste certificate it accompanies.
| Certificate | Formal validity | What institutions usually ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Domicile | Does not expire | Often one issued within the last six months |
| Caste | Does not expire | The original, at any age, plus a current non-creamy-layer certificate for OBC |
| Income | One financial year | Issued in the current financial year, and usually within six months |
| EWS | One financial year | Issued for the financial year the admission or recruitment falls in |
A permanent certificate is not the same as an acceptable one. Colleges and recruiters routinely add their own recency requirement, commonly six months, because circumstances change. Read the institution's own instruction rather than assuming your certificate is fine because it never expired.
Income and EWS certificates should be applied for at the start of the financial year in which you will use them, not the week the form is due. EWS verification is the slowest of the four, and an admission window is exactly when the Tehsil queue is longest.
The mistake that costs a year. Applying for an income or EWS certificate against the previous financial year because the figures were easier to prove. It will be issued, and then refused by the institution.
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