The West Bengal government has issued a directive for the re-verification of all caste certificates that have been issued since 2011, citing concerns about their authenticity. This order, dated May 14, 2026, comes from the Backward Classes Welfare Department and affects approximately 1.69 crore certificates, which include 1 crore for Scheduled Castes (SC), 21 lakh for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 48 lakh for Other Backward Classes (OBC). Notably, around 47.80 lakh of these certificates were issued through the Duare Sarkar programme, which facilitated the distribution of government services. The government has acknowledged that the authenticity of some certificates has been contested, prompting the need for a thorough review. The directive mandates that all Sub-Divisional Officers and certificate issuing authorities conduct this re-verification in line with existing laws. Certificates found to be improperly issued may lead to actions under the West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Act, 1994. Additionally, the government plans to examine certificates linked to individuals removed from electoral rolls during recent exercises, with potential cancellations. The Secretary to the Government of West Bengal has emphasized that any negligence in this process will result in accountability for the issuing authorities.