All articles
Career 10 min read Updated 2026-10-25

Document Verification for Government Jobs — Complete Checklist & Common Rejections

Complete guide to document verification in government job recruitment with checklist of required documents, common rejection reasons, and how to prepare for DV.

Documents Required (Universal Checklist)

  • 10th Marksheet + Certificate (for age proof — most important document).
  • 12th Marksheet + Certificate.
  • Graduation Degree + Marksheet (all semesters).
  • Post-graduation (if applicable) — for higher posts.
  • Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL): Must be latest. OBC-NCL needs renewal every year.
  • EWS Certificate: Valid for 1 year from issue date. Must be from the year of notification.
  • Domicile/Residence Certificate: For state-specific recruitment.
  • Aadhar Card + PAN Card.
  • 4-6 passport size photographs (same as used in application form).
  • Character Certificate from Police Station (not older than 6 months).
  • Medical Fitness Certificate (usually done on the day of DV or after).

Common Rejection Reasons

  • OBC-NCL certificate expired or from wrong financial year — #1 rejection reason.
  • Name mismatch between 10th certificate and graduation degree (e.g., after marriage).
  • Date of birth mismatch between documents and application form.
  • Missing original documents (photocopies not accepted at DV).
  • Caste certificate not from the home state (some exams require home state certificate).
  • EWS certificate issued after the cutoff date mentioned in notification.
  • Photo mismatch — recent photo vs application photo look very different.
  • Graduation percentage not meeting minimum criteria (especially for banking).

Pro Tips for Smooth DV

  • Make 3 sets of all photocopies. Self-attested. Arranged in order of notification checklist.
  • Carry the ORIGINAL notification/advertisement printout with you.
  • Reach the venue 1 hour early. Long queues are common.
  • Get your name corrected NOW if there is any mismatch between documents. Apply for affidavit + gazette notification.
  • For female candidates: If name changed after marriage, carry marriage certificate + gazette notification.
  • Download e-certificates from DigiLocker as backup.
  • If a document is lost: Get a duplicate from the issuing authority + FIR copy + affidavit.

Read next