1Apply
esathi.up.gov.in → log in → “आय प्रमाण पत्र” → fill the form → upload documents → pay → submit.
2Documents
Aadhaar, self-declaration form, ration card, photo and income proof (salary slip, ITR, or the self-declaration for informal income).
3Fee and time
₹10-15 on eSathi, or ₹30 + facilitation at a CSC. Usually 7-15 working days (Lekhpal verification + Tehsildar approval).
4Validity
3 years from issue. UP Scholarship expects a fresh one every year; EWS needs the current financial year.
What Is an Income Certificate — And Why It Connects to Everything
An income certificate (आय प्रमाण पत्र, Aay Praman Patra) is a government document issued by the Tehsildar under the Revenue Department of Uttar Pradesh. It certifies a family’s total annual income from all sources, not one person’s: salary, pension, business, agriculture, rent, interest and any other regular earning, added up across all earning members of the household.
It is the most applied-for certificate on eDistrict, because it unlocks a chain of other systems:
- UP Scholarship: the Saksham portal checks it against the eDistrict database before releasing scholarship money, for lakhs of students every year (84.88 lakh applications in 2025-26).
- EWS reservation: the 10% EWS quota in IITs, NITs, AIIMS and state institutions needs a separate EWS certificate, which is assessed on the same family income.
- Pensions: SSPY pension eligibility depends on it.
- Housing: PMAY housing scheme eligibility is set by income band.
- Government jobs: UPPSC, UPSSSC (Lekhpal, Junior Assistant) and UP Police document verification ask for income proof for EWS and other claims.
One certificate, checked by many systems. Getting the income figure wrong, even by ₹1, can lead to a rejected scholarship, a denied pension or a lost reservation months later.
What Income to Include — The Calculation Nobody Explains
This is where most applicants go wrong. The certificate records total family income from all sources, but not every payment counts the same way. These rules come from the Revenue Department’s assessment framework and the DoPT’s non-creamy-layer guidelines.
Income Sources to Include
| Source | What to count | What to leave out |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | Basic pay, Dearness Allowance (DA), special pay, deputation pay and other taxable allowances | House Rent Allowance (HRA) and Travelling Allowance (TA) |
| Pension | The monthly pension in your Pension Payment Order (PPO) | The lump-sum commutation received at retirement |
| Business / profession | Annual profit: the figure in your latest ITR, or the amount on your self-declaration form if you don’t file ITR | – |
| Agriculture | Self-declared income from your land, which the Lekhpal checks against your records on UP Bhulekh: area, irrigated or not, and the usual yield | – |
| Rent | Rent received, less maintenance (a 30% deduction for residential property is the usual convention) | – |
| Interest | Fixed deposit, savings account and post office interest, from your passbook or statements | – |
| Other | Regular money sent by family members working elsewhere, and any other recurring income | – |
Whose Income Counts — The “Family”
The certificate is for the household, not one person. It normally counts the income of the applicant, their spouse and their dependent children (minor children and unmarried daughters living in the same household). It does not count married adult children living separately, siblings who aren’t dependants, or in-laws in a separate household with a separate kitchen. If your adult son is married and lives in a different house, his income is not part of your family’s certificate.
The OBC Non-Creamy-Layer Rule
The income certificate itself doesn’t apply these exclusions; it records total income from all sources. The NCL certificate is a separate document that applies the rules. Getting the income certificate right is still the first step, because the NCL assessment starts from it.
Income Limits — Same Certificate, Different Limits by Purpose
One income certificate serves several purposes, each with its own ceiling. Know your limit before applying.
| Purpose | Income limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UP Scholarship, SC/ST | ₹2.5 lakh | Pre-Matric, Intermediate and Dashmottar; the Saksham portal checks the certificate |
| UP Scholarship, General/OBC/minority | ₹2 lakh | Same check |
| OBC Non-Creamy Layer | ₹8 lakh | Salary and agricultural income not counted (DoPT) |
| EWS reservation (10%) | ₹8 lakh | Plus asset limits; needs a separate EWS certificate |
| PMAY-Urban (housing) | ₹3 lakh / ₹6 lakh / ₹9 lakh | EWS / LIG / MIG bands under PMAY-U 2.0 |
| SSPY pension | Varies by scheme | Old age, widow and disability pensions have different criteria |
| Legal aid | ₹1 lakh (UP) | ₹5 lakh for Supreme Court cases (LSA Act s.12(h)); women, children, SC/ST members and people in custody qualify regardless of income (NALSA) |
| Fee waivers (state institutions) | Varies | Set by each institution |
Which schemes fit your family income?
Enter your category and your family's total annual income (the figure on your income certificate). The checker compares it with the limits in the table above.
A guide based on the income limits on this page, not a decision. Final eligibility depends on each scheme's full rules and official verification. Enter your family's true income: the certificate must match it.
Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) is not on this list on purpose: its ₹5 lakh is the health cover per family per year, not an income limit. Eligibility is based on the SECC deprivation criteria (and age 70+ for the senior citizens’ cover), not on an income certificate.
The income on your certificate must truthfully reflect your family’s actual income. Don’t inflate it to seem wealthier (there’s no practical reason to), and don’t understate it to qualify for a scheme you aren’t eligible for: the Lekhpal’s field verification and the Saksham portal’s check against eDistrict are designed to catch exactly that.
Documents Required — By Applicant Type
The core documents are the same for everyone. What changes is the income proof.
Core Documents (Everyone)
- Aadhaar card (mandatory, for e-KYC)
- Self-declaration form (mandatory upload: signed, JPG/JPEG, max 100KB; some upload slots also accept PDF)
- Ration card (family structure and address)
- Passport-size photograph (JPEG, under 50KB)
Income Proof by Applicant Type
| Applicant type | Income proof | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government employee | Salary slips (last 3 months) + Form 16 | Strongest proof; the Lekhpal may check with the employer |
| Private salaried | Salary slips + Form 16 or ITR | No Form 16? A bank statement showing salary credits |
| Self-employed / business | ITR (last 1-2 years) + GST registration or shop licence | No ITR? Self-declaration + bank statements |
| Farmer | Self-declaration + land records from Bhulekh | The Lekhpal estimates yield from the land’s area and type |
| Daily wage / informal | Self-declaration only | The Lekhpal’s field assessment is the main verification |
| Pensioner | Pension Payment Order (PPO) + bank statement showing the pension | Leave out the commutation lump sum |
| Several income sources | Every applicable document + a self-declaration listing each source | Include every source; leaving out rent or interest causes rejection |
How to Apply on eSathi — Step by Step
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Log in to eSathi
Log in at esathi.up.gov.in with your login ID and password.
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Choose the income certificate
Click “आवेदन भरें”, choose “राजस्व विभाग” (Revenue Department) and then “आय प्रमाण पत्र” (Income Certificate).
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Fill your personal details
Name, father’s name, date of birth, gender and Aadhaar. Some fields fill automatically from Aadhaar e-KYC. Don’t change the auto-filled name: any difference from Aadhaar creates a mismatch.
-
Fill your address and area type
District, tehsil and village or ward. Choose rural or urban, and the village or ward, carefully: they decide which area’s Lekhpal (halka) is assigned to verify. The Lekhpal verifies in towns as well as villages, and can’t verify an address outside their area.
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Enter the annual family income
This is the number printed on the certificate and checked everywhere. Add up all sources (salary, pension, business, agriculture, rent, interest) and enter the yearly total, not the monthly figure. It must exactly match your self-declaration form and what you later enter on the UP Scholarship form.
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Verify with Aadhaar OTP
Complete the Aadhaar OTP check (mandatory since 2026).
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Upload documents
Each file must be JPEG or PDF and under 100KB. The self-declaration must be a JPG/JPEG (some upload slots also accept PDF), max 100KB, with the signature visible.
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Pay the fee
Pay ₹10-15 through PAYGOV (UPI, net banking or debit card; credit cards are generally not accepted).
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Submit and save your SRN
Submit and note your Service Request Number (SRN). Track it as explained on the homepage.
What the Lekhpal Actually Checks — Inside the Field Verification
When your application reaches the Lekhpal, this is what the field visit looks at. It explains why some applications take longer, and why some are rejected even with correct papers.
1Living standard
Kachcha or pukka house, how many storeys, vehicles (bicycle, motorcycle, car) and visible appliances (AC, fridge, washing machine, TV), compared with the income you declared. A family declaring ₹80,000 a year in a three-storey pukka house with two motorcycles will be flagged.
2Land holdings
For rural applicants, your land on UP Bhulekh: how many bigha or hectares, irrigated or not, and the usual crop. Five bigha of irrigated sugarcane land in western UP means a different income from five bigha of barren land in Bundelkhand.
3Occupation
Where you work. For a government job, the Lekhpal may check with the employer; for a shop, that it exists; for daily wage work, through local knowledge and neighbours.
4Bank passbook
If you show your passbook, the Lekhpal looks at the last six months: salary credits, UPI receipts, cash deposits. It isn’t required, but it strengthens the application.
5Local knowledge
The one thing no document replaces. A Lekhpal posted in the same few villages for years knows who built a house, bought a vehicle, held a big wedding or took a loan. A declared income that contradicts this is flagged.
6Pradhan or ward councillor
In borderline cases, the Lekhpal may ask the village pradhan or ward councillor for an independent view, which adds weight to the report.
The Lekhpal’s report goes to the Revenue Inspector (Kanungo) for review, and then to the Tehsildar for final approval and digital signature.
Validity — The 3-Year Rule and Its Traps
Officially, a UP income certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue printed on it. In practice, three situations need a fresher one:
- UP Scholarship: the Saksham portal expects a fresh income certificate each academic year. Even a technically valid one-year-old certificate can be questioned, especially at renewal. The safe approach is a fresh certificate every year before scholarship season.
- EWS certificate: the EWS certificate is valid for one financial year (it expires every March 31) and is assessed on current income. A two-year-old income certificate showing ₹7 lakh doesn’t prove your income is still under ₹8 lakh today.
- Government job document verification: some notifications ask for an income certificate “issued within the last 6 months” or “of the current financial year”. The notification overrides the general 3-year validity, so read the DV call letter.
There is no grace period: the Saksham portal’s check counts exactly 36 months from the issue date.
To check whether yours is still valid: look at the date of issue (जारी करने की तिथि) on the certificate and count 36 months forward. You can also check it at edistrict.up.gov.in → “प्रमाण पत्र का सत्यापन” with the certificate number.
Income Certificate vs ITR vs Salary Slip — When You Need Which
All three show income, but for different purposes. Using the wrong one wastes time.
| Document | Issued by | What it proves | Who accepts it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income certificate | Tehsildar (Revenue Department) via eDistrict | Family annual income from all sources | Scholarships, government schemes, EWS, pensions, courts, reservation |
| ITR (income tax return) | Filed by the taxpayer with the Income Tax Department | One person’s taxable income for a financial year | Banks, loans, visas, some government schemes |
| Salary slip / Form 16 | Employer | One person’s salary only | Banks, credit cards, loans, employer checks |
- Banks and loan officers want an ITR or salary slips, not an income certificate; a Tehsildar’s income certificate isn’t standard banking documentation for loans.
- Government schemes and scholarships want the income certificate, not an ITR. The Saksham portal checks the eDistrict database, not the Income Tax database.
- Some situations need a specific document. EWS reservation for IIT/NIT admission (JoSAA) requires the EWS certificate in the Government of India format; an income certificate or ITR does not replace it. Courts may ask for the income certificate specifically in maintenance or legal-aid matters. The passport document lists do not include a state income certificate (an Income Tax assessment order is listed), so don’t rely on it for a passport.
Common Rejection Reasons — 8 Problems and Fixes
1Income doesn't match the documents
You declared ₹2.5 lakh but your salary slips show ₹3.5 lakh, or the Lekhpal saw a lifestyle that doesn’t fit the figure. Include income from every source; leaving out rent or farm income is the most common underreporting mistake.
2Self-declaration unsigned or wrong format
The self-declaration form must be signed in ink and uploaded as a JPG/JPEG of max 100KB (some upload slots also accept PDF). It’s the most common rejection across all certificate types.
3Aadhaar name doesn't match the form
e-KYC fills your name from Aadhaar. Changing it by hand (adding a surname, a different spelling) creates a mismatch flag.
4Area chosen wrongly
You chose the wrong area type, village or ward. The application goes to the Lekhpal of the wrong area (halka), who can’t verify an address outside their area. Choose based on where you actually live.
5Nobody at the address
The Lekhpal visited in working hours and found the house locked. Make sure you or a family member is available at the registered address, and tell your family a revenue officer may visit.
6Income sources not listed separately
You listed only your salary, but the Lekhpal knows you also have farmland and rented property. Declare every source.
7Siblings sharing one certificate
Two siblings using the same certificate number on the Saksham portal gives the second one a “Duplicate Income Certificate” error. Get separate certificates: same family income, separate certificate numbers.
8Certificate past 3 years
The Saksham check and EWS assessment look at the date of issue. A certificate past 36 months is rejected. Apply for a fresh one well before the deadline.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Certificate name (Hindi) | आय प्रमाण पत्र (Aay Praman Patra) |
| Department | Revenue Department, UP |
| Issued by | Tehsildar |
| Apply on | esathi.up.gov.in |
| Fee (eSathi) | ₹10-15 |
| Fee (CSC) | ₹30 + ₹30-50 facilitation |
| Processing | 7-15 working days (20-30 in July-September); official time limit 20 days |
| Field verification | Lekhpal of your area (halka), in towns and villages |
| Validity | 3 years (official); fresh yearly for scholarships; current financial year for EWS |
| Documents | Aadhaar + self-declaration + ration card + photo + income proof |
| Upload format | JPEG or PDF, under 100KB each (self-declaration: JPG/JPEG, some slots also accept PDF; max 100KB) |
| Certificate format | Digitally signed PDF with QR code and certificate number |
| Legal validity | IT Act 2000, Section 5: valid across India |
| False declaration | BNS 2023 Sections 236/237 (was IPC 199/200): up to 3 years, 7 in a judicial proceeding |
| Scholarship limits | SC/ST up to ₹2.5 lakh; General/OBC/minority up to ₹2 lakh |
| OBC NCL limit | ₹8 lakh (salary and agricultural income not counted) |
| EWS limit | ₹8 lakh + asset limits |
| Helpline | 0522-2304706 |
Frequently asked questions
What is an income certificate in UP?
An official document (आय प्रमाण पत्र) issued by the Tehsildar that certifies a family's total annual income from all sources: salary, pension, business, agriculture, rent and interest. You apply on eSathi (esathi.up.gov.in), the Lekhpal verifies it in the field, and the Tehsildar signs it digitally.
What income should I include?
All family income: salary (basic and DA; HRA and TA are usually left out), pension (the monthly amount, not the commuted lump sum), business or profession (from ITR or self-declared), agriculture (self-declared; the Lekhpal cross-checks it with your land on Bhulekh), rent (net of maintenance), interest and any other regular income. Include your spouse's and dependent children's income, but not that of married adult children living separately.
How long does it take?
Usually 7-15 working days, mostly for the Lekhpal's field verification. In July-September (scholarship season), expect 20-30 days because of the volume. The official time limit listed for the service is 20 days.
How long is it valid?
3 years from the date of issue, officially. But UP Scholarship expects a fresh one every year, EWS needs the current financial year, and some job document verifications ask for one issued within the last 6 months. If you need it regularly, get a fresh one every year.
I'm self-employed with no salary slip. What do I submit?
A self-declaration form with your total income, plus Aadhaar, your ration card and, if you have one, your bank passbook. Farmers can add their Bhulekh land records. For informal income, the Lekhpal's field verification of your occupation, living standard and local information is the main assessment.
What is the income limit for UP Scholarship?
Annual family income up to ₹2.5 lakh for SC and ST students, and up to ₹2 lakh for General, OBC and minority students. The Saksham portal checks your certificate against the eDistrict database, and even ₹1 of difference between the certificate and the form gives a "Data Mismatch" error.
Can siblings use the same certificate for a scholarship?
No. Each sibling needs a separate income certificate with its own certificate number. Same family and same income, but a separate application on eDistrict for each student.
What is the OBC non-creamy-layer income rule?
The ceiling is ₹8 lakh a year, but income from salary and from agriculture is not counted towards it (DoPT rule). Only other income, such as business, rent and interest, counts. Separately, the status of the parents' posts (for example Group A officers) can put a family in the creamy layer regardless of income.
What is the difference between an income certificate and an ITR?
The income certificate shows family income from all sources, is issued by the Tehsildar, and is used for government schemes and scholarships. An ITR shows one person's taxable income, is filed by that person with the Income Tax Department, and is used for banks and loans.
What does the Lekhpal check during verification?
Your living standard (house, vehicles, appliances), your land on Bhulekh, your occupation, your bank passbook if you show it, and local knowledge about your family. The Lekhpal judges whether the income you declared matches what they see.
What happens if I declare a false income?
It is a criminal offence under BNS 2023 Sections 236 and 237 (previously IPC 199 and 200), punished as if you had given false evidence: up to 3 years and a fine, or up to 7 years in a judicial proceeding. The certificate can be cancelled and benefits such as a scholarship, pension or reservation recovered. The self-declaration you sign is the declaration these sections cover.