The Centre has made Aadhaar authentication — or proof of holding an Aadhaar number — necessary for availing scholarship benefits under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, while making it clear that no child will be denied assistance for failing to authenticate.
In a notification issued on October 14, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said beneficiaries of the Special Scholarship Scheme under PM CARES for Children, which supports continuing education from Class 1 to Class 12, "shall be required to undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number," PTI reported.
No denial of benefits
The notification's safeguard clause states that "the benefit under the said scheme shall not be denied to any child" who fails to establish identity through authentication, furnish proof of an Aadhaar number, or has only submitted an enrolment application. In such cases, the benefit will be provided after the child's identity is verified and the relationship with the parent or legal guardian is established through documents specified in the notification.
Beneficiaries who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number must apply for enrolment — for a child, only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The department will ensure enrolment of those not yet enrolled and facilitate updates to their Aadhaar details.
What children can furnish instead
Until an Aadhaar number is assigned, children below 18 may establish identity with an enrolment acknowledgement carrying the Enrolment ID, plus an age document such as a birth certificate, Indian passport, or a Class 10 or 12 certificate or marks statement from a recognised board. They must also furnish a photograph-bearing document — such as a ration card, passport, or a caste or domicile certificate issued by an authorised officer — to establish the relationship with a parent or guardian.
The notification also prescribes documents for foreign nationals: an OCI card for cardholders below 18, an FRRO registration certificate for Tibetan refugees, and Nepalese or Bhutanese passports for those nationals. Adoption orders or other competent-authority documents can establish legal guardianship.
Fallbacks for failed authentication
If biometric authentication fails because of poor-quality biometrics or other reasons, the notification requires that another biometric mode or OTP-based authentication be offered "wherever feasible and admissible." The department will keep records of cases settled through alternative verification for periodic review and audit, and beneficiaries aged 18 and above will be covered by the exception-handling mechanism of the DBT Mission's December 19, 2017 office memorandum.
Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine (PTI) — Centre makes Aadhaar authentication mandatory for PM CARES for Children Scheme
In a notification issued on October 14, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said beneficiaries of the Special Scholarship Scheme under PM CARES for Children, which supports continuing education from Class 1 to Class 12, "shall be required to undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number," PTI reported.
No denial of benefits
The notification's safeguard clause states that "the benefit under the said scheme shall not be denied to any child" who fails to establish identity through authentication, furnish proof of an Aadhaar number, or has only submitted an enrolment application. In such cases, the benefit will be provided after the child's identity is verified and the relationship with the parent or legal guardian is established through documents specified in the notification.
Beneficiaries who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number must apply for enrolment — for a child, only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The department will ensure enrolment of those not yet enrolled and facilitate updates to their Aadhaar details.
What children can furnish instead
Until an Aadhaar number is assigned, children below 18 may establish identity with an enrolment acknowledgement carrying the Enrolment ID, plus an age document such as a birth certificate, Indian passport, or a Class 10 or 12 certificate or marks statement from a recognised board. They must also furnish a photograph-bearing document — such as a ration card, passport, or a caste or domicile certificate issued by an authorised officer — to establish the relationship with a parent or guardian.
The notification also prescribes documents for foreign nationals: an OCI card for cardholders below 18, an FRRO registration certificate for Tibetan refugees, and Nepalese or Bhutanese passports for those nationals. Adoption orders or other competent-authority documents can establish legal guardianship.
Fallbacks for failed authentication
If biometric authentication fails because of poor-quality biometrics or other reasons, the notification requires that another biometric mode or OTP-based authentication be offered "wherever feasible and admissible." The department will keep records of cases settled through alternative verification for periodic review and audit, and beneficiaries aged 18 and above will be covered by the exception-handling mechanism of the DBT Mission's December 19, 2017 office memorandum.
Sources: The Hindu BusinessLine (PTI) — Centre makes Aadhaar authentication mandatory for PM CARES for Children Scheme