Document Verification (DV) in Government Jobs: Documents and Common Rejections

Updated 11 Oct 2026 · Sarkari Core

Clearing the exam is not the finish line. Before an appointment letter is issued, every selected candidate goes through Document Verification (DV), where the recruiting body checks that everything you claimed in your application is true. Each year many candidates who have cleared an exam are rejected at this stage for avoidable reasons. This guide explains what happens at DV and how to make sure you get through it.

What is checked at document verification

Identity — that you are the same person who applied and appeared in the exam (photo, signature and sometimes biometric checks).
Age — your date of birth, from your 10th certificate.
Educational qualification — that you held the required qualification by the cut-off date in the notification.
Category — your SC/ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) or EWS certificate, in the correct format and dated within the allowed period.
Other claims — disability, ex-serviceman status, domicile, experience, sports quota and so on.

Documents to carry

The call letter for DV lists the exact documents. Typically you will need:

DV call letter / e-admit card and a copy of your submitted application form
10th certificate (proof of date of birth)
Marksheets and certificates of every qualification you claimed — 12th, graduation, diploma, ITI
Caste / OBC-NCL / EWS certificate in the format the notification prescribes
Disability certificate, discharge certificate, domicile certificate, as applicable
Photo ID — Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN or passport
Passport-size photographs — the same photo you uploaded with your application
No Objection Certificate from your employer, if you are already in government service
Experience certificates, if experience was a requirement

Carry the originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies of each, arranged in the same order as the list in the call letter.

The most common reasons candidates are rejected

Problem	How to avoid it
Category certificate in the wrong format (for example a state OBC certificate for a central job)	Check the format before applying. See our OBC NCL and EWS certificate guides.
Certificate dated outside the allowed window	Read the validity line in the notification and get a fresh certificate in time.
Qualification result declared after the cut-off date	You must have passed by the cut-off date in the notice, not just appeared — unless the notice allows final-year students.
Name or date-of-birth mismatch between documents	Make your application match your 10th certificate exactly. Fix spelling differences with a gazette notification or affidavit before DV.
Marks entered wrongly in the application	Copy marks exactly from marksheets; don't round up percentages.
Photo different from the one uploaded	Keep prints of the exact photo you uploaded.
Missing NOC from current employer	Request it early — offices can take weeks to issue it.

What happens on the day

Reporting and identity check — your call letter, ID and photo are checked, and biometric attendance may be taken.
Document check — officials compare originals with your application and collect photocopies.
Forms — you may fill attestation forms, declarations and bank details.
Medical examination — for many posts, especially police, forces and railways, a medical test follows DV.
Result — candidates who clear DV and medical are included in the final selection list.

If a document is missing or has an error

Inform the officials honestly on the day. Some recruiting bodies allow a short time to submit a missing document; others do not.
Never submit a forged or altered certificate. It leads to cancellation, debarment from future exams and possibly criminal charges.
If you are rejected wrongly, the notice usually explains the grievance or representation process — follow it within the deadline.

Start early: keep a folder with every document from our document checklist, and check the latest results to know when DV schedules are announced.

Note: Each recruiting body lists its own required documents in the DV call letter and notification. Always follow the official call letter; this guide is for general preparation.

Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. Always confirm the exact requirements, dates and rules from the official notification and the official department website before applying.

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