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Core Purpose

The Ministry of Education notifies that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is permitted to perform voluntary Aadhaar authentication for students, faculty, and staff in higher education institutions and professional institutions offering AICTE-approved programs, as per the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 and the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), through Notification S.O. 3630(E) dated 7th August, 2025, permits the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to perform Aadhaar authentication for establishing the identity of Aadhaar number holders. This permission, granted after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India and approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology via letter No. eF.No. 13(3)/2022-EG-II dated 7th April, 2025, is for authenticating students, faculty, and staff in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other professional institutions, including Polytechnics and PGDM institutions offering AICTE approved programs. The authentication is to be performed on a voluntary basis, specifically for establishing genuineness and attendance through a biometric-enabled Aadhaar authentication system. The notification, issued under Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016), mandates that AICTE must obtain consent from the Aadhaar number holder, inform them of alternate identification means, and not deny services for refusal or inability to undergo Aadhaar authentication. This notification comes into effect from its publication date in the Official Gazette.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-08082025-265321 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 3543] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025/SHRAVANA 16, 1947 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Department of Higher Education) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 7th August, 2025 S.O. 3630(E). - Whereas the use of Aadhaar number to establish identity enables individuals to receive subsidies, benefits and services in a convenient and seamless manner, obviates the need for multiplicity of documents to establish identity, simplifies processes and promotes transparency and efficiency; And whereas, the Government of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India, had allowed vide its letter No. eF.No. 13(3)/2022-EG-II, dated the 7th April, 2025 to the Government of India, Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education (hereinafter referred to as the said Ministry), for the purposes prescribed under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules) that the All India Council for Technical Education (hereinafter referred as the said Agency) may be allowed to perform authentication and be permitted the use of Aadhaar number during authentication for establishing identity of Aadhaar number holder and notify the same under rule 5 of the said rules read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act); And whereas, the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for authenticating students/faculty/staff in HEIs and other professional institutions including Polytechnics and PGDM institutions offering AICTE approved programs (hereinafter referred to as the said purpose) as prescribed under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the said rules and the performance of Aadhaar authentication for the said purpose shall be on voluntary basis and that the said Agency shall perform the Aadhaar authentication only for establishing genuineness and attendance through implementation of biometric-enabled Aadhaar authentication system; Now, therefore, in pursuance of rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016), the said Ministry hereby notifies the following, namely: - (a) the agency as provided in the said Act, shall obtain the consent of the Aadhaar number holder for the purpose of authentication herein; (b) as per sub-rule (2) of rule 3 of the said rules, Aadhaar authentication is on voluntary basis and the Agency shall inform to the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of identification and the said Agency shall not deny service to the Aadhaar number holder for refusing to, being unable to, undergo Aadhaar authentication. 2. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. [F. No. 1-25/2025-TS.II] GOVIND JAISWAL, Jt. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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