Understand commonly used public-service documents, where official information may be found, and why requirements must be checked for each policy and State/UT.
May be used to establish identity or access a service where the applicable rules permit or require it. Aadhaar is not a universal requirement for every scheme or service.
Issuing authority: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
View document details ↗May verify age or date of birth where an application has age conditions. The acceptable proof must be confirmed from the relevant service rules.
Issuing authority: Depends on the accepted proof: e.g. civil registration authority, school board or another authorised issuer
View document details ↗May be needed when a specific service or benefit is delivered to a beneficiary bank account. Share account information only through the official and necessary channel.
Issuing authority: The bank or financial institution holding the account
View document details ↗May establish a recognised caste/community category where a policy provides category-specific eligibility or benefits and the current rules require this certificate.
Issuing authority: Competent State/UT authority, commonly the notified revenue/district authority
View document details ↗Records a disability assessment by the competent authority and may support access to services or benefits where the relevant rules recognise it. It is distinct from the UDID card/number.
Issuing authority: Competent medical authority or notified medical board under applicable rules
View document details ↗May establish residence or domicile for a State/UT-specific service, admission or benefit where the applicable rules request it.
Issuing authority: Relevant State/UT Revenue Department or authorised district authority
View document details ↗May establish educational qualification, course, marks or student status when a scholarship, admission or other service asks for that evidence. Exact documents depend on the scheme and academic year.
Issuing authority: The relevant school board, university, examination body or issuing institution
View document details ↗May be used as evidence of income where a scheme, scholarship, fee concession or public service applies an income condition. The required format, validity and accepted authority can vary.
Issuing authority: Relevant State/UT Revenue Department or authorised district authority
View document details ↗May be used to examine recorded landholding or land-related details for a service or scheme where such records are relevant. Available records and terminology vary between States/UTs.
Issuing authority: Relevant State/UT Revenue or Land Records Department
View document details ↗May be used for application updates, account recovery or OTP verification where the relevant service uses it. Mobile linking is not a universal requirement for every policy.
Issuing authority: The telecom service provider; requirements depend on the service
View document details ↗May be requested for specified tax, financial or identity-related processes. Whether PAN is needed depends on the particular transaction, service and current rules.
Issuing authority: Income Tax Department / authorised PAN service channel
View document details ↗Primarily used as a travel document and may also serve as identity/address evidence where accepted by the specific process. It is not a universal prerequisite for government schemes.
Issuing authority: Ministry of External Affairs through Passport Seva and the competent Passport Office
View document details ↗Can evidence household/ration entitlement in relevant food-security processes. A ration card is not universal proof of eligibility for unrelated schemes.
Issuing authority: Relevant State/UT Food and Civil Supplies Department
View document details ↗The Unique Disability ID system supports disability-certificate and identity-related processes. The exact use and required steps depend on the service and current official instructions.
Issuing authority: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; assessment through the competent medical authority
View document details ↗