Citizen Services

The Government of India as well as State / UT governments are committed to make available all government services at the doorstep of the citizens. To provide services smoothly the central cabinet approved the national e-governance plan (2003-07).
This section will provide citizens of India with information and useful links to avail various Citizen Services being provided by the Central & State/UT Governments in India.

1. Birth Certificate

Birth Certificate is the most important identity document that makes possible for anyone in possession of it to benefit from a gamut of services offered by the Indian Government to its citizens. It becomes necessary to obtain a Birth Certificate because it serves to establish the date and fact of one¡¯s birth for  any purpose, like acquiring the right to vote, admission to schools and to the Government Service, claiming the right to marry at the legally permissible age, settlement of inheritance and property rights, and obtaining Government-issued identity documents like a driving license or passport.
To apply for a Birth Certificate, one must first register the birth. The birth has to be registered with the concerned local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence, by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar. Birth Certificate is then issued after verification with the actual records of the concerned hospital.

2. Marriage Certificate 

Marriage Certificate is the proof of registration of a marriage. The need for a Marriage Certificate arises in case you need to prove that you are legally married to someone, for purposes like obtaining a passport, changing your maiden name, etc.
To be eligible for marriage, the minimum age limit is 21 for males and 18 for females. Any marriage already celebrated can also be registered under the Special Marriage Act after giving a public notice of 30 days, subject to conditions. However, as stated above, the bridegroom and the bride must have completed 21 years and 18 years of age respectively.

3. Caste Certificate

Caste Certificate is the proof of one¡¯s belonging to a particular caste, especially in case one belongs to any of the ¡®Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribe or Backward Classes', as specified in the Indian Constitution. As a result, as part of the Indian system of Protective Discrimination, there exist certain special privileges granted to citizens, such as reservation of seats in the Legislatures and in the Government Service, waiving off a part or the whole of the fees for admission to schools and colleges, quotas in educational institutions, relaxation of upper age limits for applying to certain jobs, etc. To be able to avail these privileges, a citizen belonging to specific categories must have a valid Caste Certificate.

4. Death Certificate  

Death Certificate is a document issued by the Government to the nearest relatives of the deceased, stating the date, fact and cause of death. It is essential to register a death to prove the time and date of death, to establish the fact of death for relieving the individual from social, legal and official obligations, to enable settlement of property inheritance, and to authorise the family to collect insurance and other benefits.
A death can be reported and registered by the head of the family, in case it occurs in a house; by the medical in-charge if it occurs in a hospital; by the jail in-charge if it occurs in a jail; and by the headman of the village or the in-charge of the local police station in case the body is found deserted in that area.
To apply for a Death Certificate, you must first register the death. The death has to be registered with the concerned local authorities within 21 days of its occurrence, by filling up the form prescribed by the Registrar. Death Certificate is then issued after proper verification.

5. Ration Card

Ration Card is issued under an order or authority of the State Government, as per the Public Distribution System, for the purchase of essential commodities from fair price shops. State Governments issue distinctive Ration Cards to Above Poverty Line, Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya families and conduct periodical review and checking of Ration Cards.
It is an important tool of identification now-a-days. One may need to produce a copy of the Ration Card as a proof of identification when applying for other documents like Domicile Certificate, for inclusion of your name in the Electoral Rolls, etc. Families living below the poverty line are entitled to Red Cards, under which they can avail special subsidies.

6. Land/Property Registration

 Land or Property Registration refers to the registration to document changes in ownership and transactions involving immovable property. Whenever you buy a piece of land/immovable property, you need to register the same with the authority concerned, so that a legal ownership title is guaranteed to you.
Under the computerised Land and Property Registration system, registration is easy. It facilitates transparency in valuation and eliminates middlemen. Some states require an application to be submitted to the concerned authority.

7. Register with an Employment Exchange

The Employment Exchange provides employment assistance on the basis of qualification and experience. The Departments of Employment in various States of India allow unemployed educated youth residing in the respective States to pre-register for impending job vacancies occurring in different sectors of that State. They also allow job seekers to search for suitable jobs and to update their resume.
For registration one need to submit attested photocopies of all the educational and experience-related certificates along with the resume, Caste Certificate (optional) and photographs, and produce identity documents such as Voter¡¯s Identity Card or Ration Card or Passport or Birth Certificate or Domicile Certificate, at the Employment Exchange operating in the region. After registration, a registration number will be issued.

8. Inclusion of name in the Electoral Rolls

For every constituency, there is a list of voters that is called the Electoral Roll. To exercise a vote, one must be in the Electoral Roll of the area of his/her residence. According to Article 326 of the Constitution minimum age for the registration of a voter in India is 18 years, as on the first day of January of the year in which the Electoral Roll is prepared or revised.
  One can get your name included in the voters¡¯ list either during a door-to-door campaign by the authorised Govt. functionaries, conducted once in every 10 years, or during annual revision, the date of which is published by the Election Department.

Source : http://www.india.gov.in/howdo/index.php