Accessing welfare schemes and educational scholarships in India has traditionally required mandatory identity verification through Aadhaar. However, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has issued fresh guidelines to ensure that individuals lacking an Aadhaar number are not excluded from these support programs. The ministry has formally outlined alternative documents and procedures that can be used for verification, ensuring that financial assistance reaches eligible recipients without unnecessary hurdles.
Scope of the New Notification
The recent notification issued by the ministry is directly tied to two key welfare initiatives. The first is the free coaching scheme for children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, which is linked to the PM CARES for Children scheme. The second program involves scholarship grants aimed at providing top-class education to students from Scheduled Caste communities. These rules have been promulgated under Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act of 2016, which governs the requirement of Aadhaar numbers and enrolment for availing government subsidies while aiming to enhance transparency and simplify administrative procedures.
Alternative Documents for Beneficiaries Under Eighteen
The framework establishes distinct document categories depending on whether the beneficiary is above or below the age of 18. For beneficiaries under the age of 18 who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number, an Aadhaar enrolment slip containing the enrolment ID can be used. Additional acceptable documents include birth certificates, passports, and marksheets or certificates from recognized education boards for the 10th or 12th grades. Birth date certificates issued by government-recognized child protection institutions are also valid. Furthermore, verification can be completed using the ration card, caste certificate, domicile certificate, passport, or academic marksheet of the parents. If a legal guardian is involved, an order from a competent authority or court must be provided. For foreign nationals, relevant OCI cards, Nepali or Bhutanese passports, and designated visas or passports are accepted.
Verification Options for Adults Without Aadhaar
For beneficiaries aged 18 and above who do not possess an assigned Aadhaar number, verification can proceed using an enrolment receipt accompanied by any photo-bearing identity document. Eligible individuals can submit voter identity cards, ration cards, caste certificates, domicile certificates, medical or insurance identity cards, passports, or 10th and 12th grade certificates as proof of identity. Identity cards issued to current or retired government employees, disability certificates, and driving licenses are also recognized under the new rules. Legal guardians of adult beneficiaries must produce a court order.
Procedures for Handling Biometric Authentication Failures
In situations where biometric authentication fails during the verification process, alternative biometric modalities such as facial recognition or iris scanning can be utilized instead of fingerprint matching. If secondary biometrics are unavailable and authentication cannot be completed through physical scans, verification may be conducted via a one-time password sent to the registered mobile number. When both biometrics and OTP verification are unfeasible, identity confirmation is permitted through offline e-KYC or QR code scanning, subject to specific conditions. Officials must verify the digital signatures of UIDAI when utilizing QR codes or e-KYC procedures.
The ministry's notification explicitly mandates that an eligible student's scholarship cannot be withheld solely due to the absence of an Aadhaar number. In such cases, the identity of the beneficiary can be established through their parents or legal guardians. Departments are required to maintain records of all such cases and conduct periodic reviews. Furthermore, officials are tasked with facilitating Aadhaar enrolment for these individuals and ensuring that their details are updated in the database.
