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West Bengal Orders Re-verification of 1.69 Crore SC/ST/OBC Certificates Issued Since 2011, Links to SIR Electoral Roll Deletions

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
16 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:1.69 crore certificatesSC: 1.00 croreST: 21 lakhOBC: 48 lakhDuare Sarkar: 47.80 lakhSIR deletions: 91 lakh
Bodies:Backward Classes Welfare Department (WB)Election Commission
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What This Article Covers

1.West Bengal's Backward Classes Welfare Department ordered re-verification of all caste certificates (SC, ST, OBC) issued since 2011, totaling 1.69 crore.

2.The order explicitly states certificates issued to persons whose names were deleted in the EC's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will be examined and may be cancelled.

3.This administrative action, framed as ensuring authenticity, has significant implications for social welfare, electoral politics, and governance accountability in the state.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The newly elected BJP government in West Bengal has ordered re-verification of 1.69 crore caste certificates issued since 2011 to address allegations of fake documents. This politically significant move directly links the verification process to the deletion of voter names in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), impacting access to government schemes.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Total Certificates to be Re-verified1.69 crore
SC Certificates Issued Since 20111.00 crore
ST Certificates Issued Since 201121 lakh
OBC Certificates Issued Since 201148 lakh
Certificates Issued via Duare Sarkar Camps47.80 lakh
SIR Voter Deletions91 lakh
Order DateMay 14, 2026

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Total Certificates to be Re-verified: 1.69 crore
  • ›SC Certificates Issued Since 2011: 1.00 crore
  • ›Target this Data: Total 1.69 crore certificates (SC: 1 cr, ST: 21L, OBC: 48L) issued since 2011.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Backward Classes Welfare Department of West Bengal.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Statutory responsibility of Sub-divisional Officers (SDOs) and District Welfare Officer (DWO) for issuing caste certificates.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which department issued the order for re-verification of caste certificates in West Bengal?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the West Bengal caste certificate re-verification:

1. The re-verification order covers all caste certificates issued since 2011, totaling 1.69 crore certificates.

2. The order applies only to certificates issued through the Duare Sarkar camps, which account for 47.80 lakh certificates.

3. Caste certificates issued to persons whose names were deleted in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will be examined and may be cancelled.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the order, how many Scheduled Tribe (ST) caste certificates were issued in West Bengal since 2011?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary statutory authority responsible for issuing caste certificates in West Bengal, as mentioned in the order?

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