In this guide
Document verification (DV) checks that everything you claimed in your application is true: your age, your qualification, your category and any other benefit you asked for. It comes after the PET, and in recent cycles it has been held together with, or just before, the medical examination.
DV is not a test of knowledge. It is a test of paperwork. That is good news, because paperwork can be fixed in advance. It is also a warning, because a problem found at DV comes when your CBT and PET are already behind you, and the time to fix it is short.
How DV works
- Candidates who clear the PET are shortlisted for DV on merit. The list is published on the board's website.
- You download an e-call letter with the date, time and venue.
- At the venue, your identity is checked against your photo and details from earlier stages.
- Officials compare each original document with what you entered in the application.
- You sign or submit the forms the call letter asks for, and are usually sent on for the medical examination.
Selection after DV is provisional. It depends on the medical result and on verification of your documents. A false claim found later can lead to cancellation even after joining.
The documents you will usually need
| Document | What it proves | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| DV e-call letter | Entry | Print it; carry a spare |
| Photo ID | Identity | Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or similar, as the notice lists |
| Class 10 certificate and marksheet | Education and date of birth | The date of birth must match your application exactly |
| ITI / NAC certificate | Technical qualification, if you used it | A marksheet alone may not be enough; get the certificate |
| Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC) | Category claim | Must be in the central government format |
| OBC non-creamy layer certificate | OBC reservation | Must be valid for the period the notice specifies |
| EWS certificate | EWS reservation | Income and asset certificate for the financial year the notice names |
| PwBD certificate | Disability reservation | Issued by a competent medical authority under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 |
| Ex-servicemen papers | Ex-servicemen claim | Discharge certificate or as the notice lists |
| No Objection Certificate | If you already work for a government or public body | From your current employer |
| Name-change proof | If your name has changed | Gazette notification or the proof the notice asks for |
| Photographs | Records | Same size and style as the notice asks; carry extras |
Bring the originals and at least two sets of self-attested photocopies. Keep them in the order of the list on your call letter.
The problems that cost selections
Name and date-of-birth mismatches
Your name must be spelt the same way on your application, your Class 10 certificate, your ITI certificate, your caste certificate and your ID. A single letter matters: "Kumar" on one and "Kumaar" on another will raise questions. Your date of birth is taken from your Class 10 certificate, not from your Aadhaar card.
Category certificates in the wrong format
Central government recruitments need category certificates in the central format. A state-format OBC certificate is a common reason for losing a reserved seat. If your claim is rejected, you may still be considered as UR, but only if your score meets the UR cut-off, which is usually higher.
Certificates not valid for the right period
OBC non-creamy layer and EWS certificates depend on income, so they are tied to a period. The notice says which period is accepted. An old certificate, even a genuine one, may not count.
Qualification not complete in time
Your Class 10, ITI or NAC must have been complete by the date fixed in the notice. A result declared after that date makes you ineligible, however well you did.
Problems and what to do
| Problem | When you find it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Name spelt differently on two certificates | Before applying | Get the wrong one corrected through the issuing board or office, or get the proof the notice accepts |
| State-format OBC certificate | Any time before DV | Apply to your tehsil or district office for the central format with the non-creamy layer clause |
| EWS or OBC-NCL certificate for the wrong year | After the CBT | Apply for a fresh one for the period in the notice |
| Only an ITI marksheet, no certificate | After the CBT | Collect the certificate from your ITI or the issuing council |
| Date of birth in the application differs from Class 10 | At DV | Explain politely and show the Class 10 certificate; the notice's rules decide the outcome |
Corrections through a board or a government office can take weeks. That is why the time to check is now, not after the PET result.
A preparation timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before you apply | Compare name and date of birth on every document. Start any correction. |
| After you apply | Apply for category certificates in the central format. Save the application PDF. |
| After the CBT result | Check the validity period of OBC-NCL or EWS certificates against the notice. Collect ITI/NAC certificates. |
| After the PET result | Download the DV call letter. Arrange documents in its order. Make two sets of copies. |
| The day before | Pack the folder, photos, ID and a pen. Plan travel to reach early. |
On the day
- Arrive early, with all originals in one folder in the order of the call letter.
- Carry two sets of self-attested photocopies and extra photographs.
- Wear simple clothes. The medical examination may follow the same day or soon after.
- Answer questions politely and briefly.
If something is wrong on the day
- Stay calm and explain the problem honestly.
- Ask whether a missing or corrected document can be submitted later, and by what date.
- Get the instruction in writing if possible, and note the name and designation of the officer.
- Don't argue. Follow the procedure and submit on time.
Keep copies safe
- Scan every certificate and keep the files in your email and on a pen drive.
- Keep the originals together in one waterproof folder.
- Make a list of all your documents with their numbers and dates of issue.
After DV, read our medical examination guide, because many candidates go straight from one to the other.
Checklist for DV
- E-call letter printed, plus one spare.
- Originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies, in the call letter's order.
- Name and date of birth the same on every document.
- Category certificate in the central format and valid for the notice's period.
- ITI/NAC certificate, if used for eligibility.
- NOC from your employer, if you are in government service.
- Photographs as specified, plus extras.
For the eligibility rules behind these documents, see our eligibility guide.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Railway Recruitment Boards website .
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