The cabinet has decided to waive the application fee for government services. Application forms will be simplified and limited to a single page. The fee for business and commercial purposes will continue.

The procedures for issuing various certificates/services to the public will be simplified and various steps for approving applications will also be facilitated. This is in addition to the measures taken to make government services online as much as possible.

Certificates once issued can also be used for other government purposes too. The validity can be defined by the concerned departments, but should be for at least one year. The certificate will no longer state that it is issued for a specific purpose.  No need to get attestation of documents/certificates from gazetted officer/notary, self attestation will be enough.

The current procedures for EWS certification certificate, SC-ST certificate will continue. For simplifying procedures, laws and regulations will be amended if needed.

Those born in Kerala will be considered as a native if they have a birth certificate or five years study record at any educational institutions in Kerala. For those born outside Kerala, the nativity certificate will be issued by the village officer himself.  However, for online application, the decision must be taken within five working days.  From now onwards, one can present aadhaar card, latest electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill or building tax receipt instead of the residency certificate. Those who do not have these documents can produce a certificate issued by the local body.

Life certificates can use the biometric digital system ‘Jeevan Praman’ introduced by the central government for pensioners. This facility is available at Kerala treasury and banks.  The ‘One and Same Certificate’, needs the affidavit of the individual attested by a gazetted officer.

Relationship certificate issued by the village officer or tehsildar is not required if the affiliation is accurately recorded in any documents like ration card, school certificate, passport, aadhaar and birth certificate. If the names of the family members are included in the ration card of the applicant, the ration card can be accepted, instead of the family membership certificate. If not, the certificate issued by the village officer should be produced.

Citizens who do not have an identity card can obtain an identification certificate by submitting a certificate with the photo of the applicant issued by the gazetted officer.

If the caste of the applicant is accurately recorded in the SSLC certificate or any other education certificates, it can be considered as the basic document instead of the caste certificate issued by the village officer/tehsildar. If the parents are of different castes, the caste recorded in any of the parent’s SSLC or any educational certificates can be considered as evidence.

If the caste is duly recorded in the SSLC or any education certificates of the husband or wife and there is a marriage certificate issued by the sub-registrar or the local body, it will be accepted as a replacement for the inter-caste marriage certificate. Along with an affidavit will be accepted.

Job seekers going abroad will be given the facility to upload online certificates for certification by the Home Department. For this, login facility will be provided to the universities, pareeksha bhavan, higher secondary section and the local government department. This will enable the concerned authorities to verify the authenticity of the certificates online.  An office not below the rank of a deputy collector shall be appointed for this purpose. After verification, the attestation will be completed and the person to whom the service will be available will be notified in advance and attested certificates will be issued.