Gazette Tracker
Gazette Tracker

Core Purpose

The Central Government notifies that Aadhaar authentication by the National Recruitment Agency shall be on a voluntary basis, superseding previous notification S.O 2173 (E) dated 15th May, 2025, and specifies conditions for this voluntary authentication.

Detailed Summary

The Central Government, through the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training), issued Notification S.O. 5835(E) on December 17, 2025, superseding its previous notification S.O 2173 (E), dated May 15, 2025. This notification, issued in pursuance of 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, read with rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, declares that Aadhaar authentication by the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) shall be on a voluntary basis. The NRA is required to obtain the consent of the Aadhaar number holder, not deny any service for refusing or being unable to undergo authentication, and inform individuals of alternate identification means including PAN Card, Driving Licence, Passport, Photo Identity card issued by Government office or recognised institution, and Voter Identity Card. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, after consulting with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), consented to allow NRA to use Aadhaar for identity establishment. This notification came into force on December 17, 2025, signed by S. D. Sharma, Jt. Secy.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-17122025-268583 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 5640] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2025/AGRAHAYANA 26, 1947 MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (Department of Personnel and Training) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 17th December, 2025 S.O. 5835(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 Central Government has issued a notification in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), vide number S.O 2173 (E), dated the 15th May, 2025 allowing the National Recruitment Agency to perform Aadhaar authentication, on voluntary basis, for establishing the identity of applicants, public examination functionaries and other stakeholders involved in public examinations, during various stages of examination, including registration on the portal of NRA, using Yes/No or/and e-KYC authentication facilities; AND WHEREAS the Central Government has considered it necessary and expedient in the public interest to supersede the said notification; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), has consented to allow the National Recruitment Agency 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 Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as 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 (hereinafter referred to as the Act); AND WHEREAS the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance and enablement of innovation and the spread of knowledge as referred to 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 National Recruitment Agency shall perform the Aadhaar authentication for usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance and enablement of innovation and the spread of knowledge; NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Act read with rule 5 of the said rules and in supersession of the notification issued vide S.O 2173 (E), dated the 15th May, 2025, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government hereby notifies that the Aadhaar authentication shall be on voluntary basis and the National Recruitment Agency shall,- (a) obtain the consent of the Aadhaar number holder for the purpose of authentication herein; (b) not deny any service to the Aadhaar number holder for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo Aadhaar authentication; and (c) inform the Aadhaar number holder of the following alternate and viable means of identification, namely:- (i) PAN Card; (ii) Driving Licence; (iii) Passport; (iv) Photo Identity card issued by Government office or recognised institution; (v) Voter Identity Card. 2. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. [F. No. 39035/01/2024-PP (B-I)] S. D. SHARMA, 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.

Never miss important gazettes

Create a free account to save gazettes, add notes, and get email alerts for keywords you care about.

Sign Up Free