Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-19012026-269426
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 195]
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026/PAUSHA 25, 1947
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(Department of Social Justice and Empowerment)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th January, 2026
S.O. 217(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 Development and Welfare Board for De-Notified Nomadic and Semi
Nomadic Communities (hereinafter referred to as the said agency) under the administrative purview
of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (hereinafter referred to as the said Ministry) in
the Government of India (hereinafter referred to as the said Government) is administering the
Scheme for Economic Empowerment of De-Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities
(hereinafter referred to as the said scheme);
And whereas the financial assistance for free coaching of good quality to prepare for
competitive examinations where the minimum qualification is 12th class, health insurance through
creation of Ayushman Card, to build and strengthen the small clusters of De-Notified, Nomadic and
Semi-Nomadic Communities through formation of Self Help Groups, and the construction of
residential houses (hereinafter referred to as the said benefits) is given to the members of De-
Notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries)
under the said scheme and the instructions and guidelines issued in respect thereof;
And whereas expenditure for the said scheme is incurred from the Consolidated Fund of
India:
And whereas the said Ministry is desirous that the said Government, for the purpose of
establishing identity of a beneficiary as a condition for the receipt of the said benefit, require that
such beneficiary undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or in the
case of an individual to whom no Aadhaar number has been assigned, make an application for
enrolment;
Now, therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of section 7 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), the Government of India hereby notifies the following,
namely:-
1. (1) An individual desirous of availing of the said benefit under the said scheme shall be
required to undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number.
(2) In case such an individual has not been assigned an Aadhaar number, he shall be required
to make an application for enrolment:
Provided that if that individual is a child, such application shall be made only with the
consent of his parent or legal guardian.
(3) In accordance with the provisions of regulation 12 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update)
Regulations, 2016, the said agency shall ensure enrolment of such beneficiaries who are yet
to be enrolled, or update their Aadhaar details through appropriate measures, including
coordination with Registrars and setting up enrolment centres at convenient locations or
providing enrolment facilities by becoming a Registrar itself:
Provided that till such time an Aadhaar number is assigned to such beneficiary, he may
establish his identity to avail of the said benefit, by presenting the following documents to
which he is entitled and which are valid at the time of presentation, or, in case the software
provided or authorised by the said agency for such identification supports electronic obtaining
of information evidencing the contents of such documents from the database of the authorities
dealing with the preparation or maintenance thereof, by giving his consent for so obtaining,
namely:-
For a child below 18 years of age to whom an Aadhaar number has not been
assigned:
(a) The acknowledgement of the beneficiary having undergone the process of
enrolment, provided by the operator at the enrolment centre, containing the
Enrolment ID (EID); and
(b) any one of the following documents to evidence that the beneficiary is a child
below 18 years of age, namely:—
(i) Certificate of Birth given under the Registration of Births and Deaths
Act, 1969 (18 of 1969), as extracted from the entry made in the register
of births regarding the birth of the beneficiary;
(ii) Indian passport;
(iii) certificate or statement of marks of matriculation or 10th class or higher
secondary or 12th class, issued by a recognised Board of school
education;
(iv) in respect of a child in need of care and protection or a child in conflict
with law, who is housed by Child Care Institution registered as such
with the State Government concerned under the rules made by it under
the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015(2 of
2016), certificate specifying his date of birth issued by the person-in-
charge, superintendent, child welfare officer or probation officer of
such institution; or
(v) in respect of a foreign national,—
(A) if he is an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, Overseas
Citizen of India Card;
(B) if he is a Tibetan refugee, registration certificate issued by a
Foreigners Regional Registration Office;
(C) if he is a national of Nepal or Bhutan, passport of Nepal or
Bhutan;
(D) if he is other than a Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder,
Tibetan refugee or a national of Nepal or Bhutan, either an
Indian visa along with foreign passport or a Long Term Visa to
India along with currently valid or expired foreign passport; or
(c) any one of the following documents, having the photograph of the beneficiary,
to evidence his relationship with the parent or legal guardian, namely:—
(i) ration card;
(ii) Caste Certificate or domicile certificate, issued by a Gazetted officer
who is an Executive Magistrate or a revenue officer of the State
Government, not below the rank of Tahsildar;
(iii) medical or insurance identity card issued by a Government entity or
public sector enterprise to a retired or serving public servant or his
family member;
(iv) Indian passport;
(v) certificate or statement of marks of matriculation or 10th class or higher
secondary or 12th class, issued by a recognised Board of school
education;
(vi) in respect of a child in need of care and protection or a child in conflict
with law, who is housed by Child Care Institution registered as such
with the State Government concerned under the rules made by it under
the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015(2 of
2016), certificate specifying his date of birth issued by the person-in-
charge, superintendent, child welfare officer or probation officer of such
institution; or
(vii) in respect of a foreign national,—
(A) if he is an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, Overseas Citizen
of India Card;
(B) if he is a Tibetan refugee, registration certificate issued by a
Foreigners Regional Registration Office;
(C) if he is a national of Nepal or Bhutan, passport of Nepal or
Bhutan;
(D) if he is other than a Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, Tibetan
refugee or a national of Nepal or Bhutan, either an Indian visa
along with foreign passport or a Long Term Visa to India along
with currently valid or expired foreign passport; or
(viii) in respect of a beneficiary who has a legal guardian, adoption order or other
document to evidence legal guardianship, which is issued by a court of law or
competent authority under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (8 of 1890), the
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016), the
National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental
Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (44 of 1999) or the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016) and the applicable rules and regulations
made under the said Acts; or
(ix) any other document as the said Ministry may specify.
For beneficiaries aged 18 years or more to whom an Aadhaar number has not been
assigned:
(a) The acknowledgement of the beneficiary having undergone the process of
enrolment, provided by the operator at the enrolment centre, containing the
EID; and
(b) any one of the following documents, having the beneficiary's photograph,
namely:-
(i) Elector's Photo Identity Card issued by the Election Commission of
India;
(ii) ration card;
(iii) Caste Certificate or Domicile Certificate, issued by a Gazetted officer
who is an Executive Magistrate or a revenue officer of the State
Government, not below the rank of Tahsildar;
(iv) medical or insurance identity card issued by a Government entity or
public sector enterprise to a retired or serving public servant or his
family member;
(v) Indian passport;
(vi) certificate or statement of marks of matriculation or 10th class or higher
secondary or 12th class, issued by a recognised Board of school
education;
(vii) identity card or other identity document issued to serving or retired
public servant by a Government entity or a public sector enterprise;
(viii) Disability Certificate issued by notified medical authority under
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, or Unique Disability
Identification (UDID) card issued by the Department of
Empowerment of Persons
with Disabilities (Divyangjan),
Government of India;
(ix) driving licence issued in India;
(x) in respect of a child in need of care and protection or a child in conflict
with law, who is housed by Child Care Institution registered as such
with the State Government concerned under the rules made by it under
the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of
2016), certificate specifying his date of birth issued by the person-in-
charge, superintendent, child welfare officer or probation officer of
such institution; or
(xi) in respect of a foreign national, —
(A) if he is an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder, Overseas
Citizen of India Card;
(B) if he is a Tibetan refugee, registration certificate issued by a
Foreigners Regional Registration Office;
(C) if he is a national of Nepal or Bhutan, passport of Nepal or
Bhutan;
(D) if he is other than a Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder,
Tibetan refugee or a national of Nepal or Bhutan, either an
Indian visa along with foreign passport or a Long Term Visa to
India along with currently valid or expired foreign passport; or
(xii) in respect of a beneficiary who has a legal guardian, adoption
order or other document to evidence legal guardianship, which is issued by
a court of law or competent authority under the Guardians and Wards Act,
1890 (8 of 1890), the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,
2015 (2 of 2016), the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism,
Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (44
of 1999) or the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016)
and the applicable rules and regulations made under the said Acts; or
(xiii) any other document as the said Ministry may specify.
(4) An officer designated by the said Ministry in this behalf shall check in respect of the
documents presented or the information evidencing the contents thereof under clause (3),—
(a) the status of the enrolment request by submitting the EID on myAadhaar portal
(https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/portal) to confirm that the EID is valid and that the
enrolment request does not stand rejected; and
(b) the other documents, and for this purpose, may take the assistance of and share the
information presented with any government entity or an authority that deals with the
preparation or maintenance of the information contained in such documents.
2. In order to enable beneficiaries to avail of the said benefits conveniently, the Ministry shall
make all necessary steps to ensure wide publicity through media to make the beneficiaries aware of
the requirement of Aadhaar number under the said scheme.
3. Where the authentication of the Aadhaar number of a beneficiary done through any of the
biometric-based modes of authentication (namely, facial image, fingerprints or iris scan based
authentication) fails due to any reason, such as poor quality of biometric information, the following
remedial mechanisms shall be adopted, namely:—
(a) In case any particular biometric-based mode of authentication is not successful, any
other mode of biometric-based authentication or one-time pin (OTP) based
authentication shall, wherever feasible and admissible, be offered;
(b) in cases where biometric-based or OTP-based modes of authentication are not
possible, benefits under the said scheme may, after establishing the genuineness of
the Aadhaar number by doing offline verification of the digital signature certificate
of UIDAI on the Aadhaar Secure Quick Response (QR) Code or the Aadhaar
Paperless Offline e-KYC document, as the case may be, be given on the basis of any
of the following:
(i) An Aadhaar Secure Quick Response (QR) Code containing Aadhaar
card, Aadhaar letter (i.e., the letter issued to an Aadhaar number holder
on generation of his Aadhaar number) or e-Aadhaar (i.e., the password-
protected electronic copy of Aadhaar letter downloadable from the
website of UIDAI or accessible using its mAadhaar app), after its
genuineness is established through offline verification by scanning the
QR code using the Aadhaar QR Scanner or mAadhaar apps.
(ii) Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC document (downloadable from the
website of UIDAI or accessible using its mAadhaar app), after its
genuineness is established through offline verification of the digital
signature certificate of UIDAI on the document through the application
developed by the Ministry or Department or scheme implementing
agency concerned for this purpose, in accordance with the details given
in this regard on the website of UIDAI.
4. Notwithstanding anything contained herein above,—
(a) the benefit under the said scheme shall not be denied to a child—
(i) in case of failure to establish his identity by undergoing authentication or to
furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number; or
(ii) in case of production of an application for enrolment where he has not been
assigned an Aadhaar number;
(b) the benefit under the said scheme shall be given to such a child by verifying his identity
and establishing his relationship with his parent or legal guardian in the manner
specified in the proviso to clause (3) of paragraph 1; and
(c) where benefit is given under clause (b), a record shall be maintained in respect of the
same, which shall be reviewed and audited periodically by the Ministry.
5. In order to ensure that bona fide beneficiaries who are aged 18 years or more are not deprived
of the benefit due to them under the said scheme, the Ministry shall follow the exception handling
mechanism specified in the Office Memorandum No. D-26011/04/2017-DBT, dated the 19th
December, 2017 of the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India
(available on https://dbtbharat.gov.in).
6. This notification shall be effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
[F. No. 16014/9/2025-BC-III]
PARVEEN KUMAR THIND, Jt. Secy.