**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on June 11, 2026, authorizes the use of Aadhaar authentication on a voluntary basis to streamline identity verification. It targets candidates during various examination stages and joining processes, as well as examination functionaries. The provisions are effective as of the date of publication in the official Gazette (June 12, 2026), emphasizing transparency and the prevention of benefit dissipation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Authorized Use Cases**
* **Candidates:** Identity verification at various stages of examinations conducted by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
* **Employment Joining:** Authentication of candidates at the time of their formal joining.
* **Staffing:** Verification of examination functionaries involved in the examination process.
**Authentication Protocols**
* **Voluntary Basis:** Authentication must be strictly voluntary; the Ministry cannot deny services to individuals who refuse or are unable to undergo the process.
* **Consent Requirement:** The Ministry must obtain explicit consent from the Aadhaar number holder before performing authentication.
* **Technical Methods:** Verification will be conducted using Yes/No and/or eKYC authentication facilities via digital platforms.
**Alternative Identification**
* **Viable Alternatives:** The Ministry is required to inform individuals of alternate identification methods if Aadhaar is not used.
* **Accepted Documents:** Alternative valid IDs include Voter ID Card, PAN Card, Driving License, Passport, or other Government-issued IDs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Candidates (Examinees and New Joinees)**
**Impact**
They benefit from a simplified, seamless identity verification process during exams and recruitment but retain the right to opt out without losing access to services.
**Action Required**
Provide formal consent if choosing to use Aadhaar, or present one of the five specified alternative government IDs for manual verification.
**Examination Functionaries**
**Impact**
Staff involved in the examination process are now subject to standardized digital identity verification to ensure governance and security.
**Action Required**
Undergo Aadhaar-based eKYC or provide alternative official identification as required by the department.
**Department of Agricultural Research and Education**
**Impact**
The department is empowered to use digital platforms to promote efficiency, transparency, and the prevention of fraud in its administrative and examination processes.
**Action Required**
Establish protocols to obtain and record holder consent, ensure the availability of alternative identification tracks, and update examination guidelines to reflect these voluntary authentication rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016: The primary legislation governing the use of Aadhaar numbers for establishing identity to deliver subsidies, benefits, and services.
Department of Agricultural Research and Education: The department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare authorized to perform Aadhaar authentication for examination candidates and functionaries.
Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020: The specific rules under which government departments are permitted to use Aadhaar authentication to promote transparency and prevent wastage of benefits.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The regulatory ministry that, after consulting with UIDAI, granted permission for Aadhaar authentication usage to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): The statutory authority consulted to allow the use of Aadhaar authentication for ensuring good governance and digital platform usage.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-12062026-273412
CG-DxLx-xEG-I1D2H0x6x2x0 26-273412
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 425] नई किल्ली, िुिवार, िनू 12, 2026/ज्य ष्े ठ 22, 1948
No. 425] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026/JYAISTHA 22, 1948
कृजि एव ं ककसान कल्याण मत्रं ालय
(कृजि अनसु धं ान एव ं जिक्षा जवभाग)
अजधसचू ना
नई किल्ली, 11 िून, 2026
सा.का.जन. 475(अ).— िबकक पहचान स्ट्थाजपत करने के जलए आधार संख्या का उपयोग व्यजियों को सुजवधािनक
एवं जनबााध तरीके स े सजससडी, लाभ तथा सेवाएँ प्राप्त करन े म ेंसक्षम बनाता है, पहचान स्ट्थाजपत करन े हते ु अनेक िस्ट्तावेिों
की आवश्यकता को समाप्त करता ह,ै प्रकियाओं को सरल बनाता ह ैतथा पारिर्िाता और िक्षता को बढावा िेता है:
2. और िबकक इलेक्ट्रॉजनकी एवं सूचना प्रौद्योजगकी मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार ने, भारतीय जवजिष्ट पहचान प्राजधकरण
(यूआईडीएआई) से परामिा के उपरांत, किनांक 24 माच,ा 2026 के अपने पत्र संख्या ई.एफ.स.ं 22(4)/2026-साइबर काननू
द्वारा कृजि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्रालय, कृजि अनुसंधान एव ं जिक्षा जवभाग (जिसे आग े उि मंत्रालय कहा गया है), भारत
सरकार (जिसे आगे उि सरकार कहा गया ह)ै को, आधार प्रमाणीकरण सुिासन (सामाजिक कल्याण, नवाचार, ज्ञान) जनयम,
2020 (जिसे आगे उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै के जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (1) के अधीन जवजनर्िाष्ट प्रयोिनों हते ु यह अनुमजत
प्रिान की ह ै कक कृजि अनुसंधान एवं जिक्षा जवभाग को प्रमाणीकरण करन े तथा आधार संख्या धारक की पहचान स्ट्थाजपत
करने के जलए प्रमाणीकरण के िौरान आधार संख्या के उपयोग की अनुमजत िी िाए तथा आधार (जवत्तीय और अन्य सजससडी,
4256 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
लाभ और सेवाओं का लजक्षत जवतरण) अजधजनयम, 2016 (जिसे आगे उि अजधजनयम कहा गया ह)ै की धारा 4 की उपधारा
(4) के खंड (ख) के उपखंड (ii) के साथ पठठत उि जनयमों के जनयम 5 के अधीन इसकी अजधसूचना िारी की िाए:
3. और िबकक सुिासन सजु नजित करने, सामाजिक कल्याण लाभों के अपव्यय की रोकथाम तथा नवाचार को सक्षम
बनाने एवं ज्ञान के प्रसार के जलए जडजिटल प्लेटफामों के उपयोग (जिसे आगे उि प्रयोिन कहा गया ह)ै , हते ु उि जनयमों के
जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (1) के अधीन जवजनर्िाष्ट अनुसार आधार प्रमाणीकरण ककया िाना आवश्यक ह ैतथा उि प्रयोिन हते ु
आधार प्रमाणीकरण स्ट्वैजछिक आधार पर ककया िाएगा और उि जवभाग केवल जनम्नजलजखत उपयोग के मामलों में आधार
प्रमाणीकरण करेगा, अथाात ् - (क) जवभाग द्वारा आयोजित परीक्षाओं के जवजभन्न चरणों म ें अभ्यर्थायों के जलए तथा उनकी
जनयुजि/कायाभार ग्रहण करन ेके समय; और (ख) परीक्षा प्रकिया म ेंसंलग्न परीक्षा कायाकतााओं/पिाजधकाठरयों के जलए, हाँ/नहीं
अथवा/और ई-केवाईसी प्रमाणीकरण सुजवधा का उपयोग करते हुए। (जिसे इसके पिात् 'उपयोग के मामले' कहा िाएगा)
4. अतः, अब उि जनयमों के जनयम 5 के अनुसरण म ें तथा अजधजनयम की धारा 4 की उपधारा (4) के खंड (ख) के
उपखंड (ii) के साथ पठठत प्रावधानों के अनुसार, उि मंत्रालय एतद्द्वारा जनम्नजलजखत अजधसूजचत करता है, नामत :-
1. (1) मंत्रालय, अजधजनयम में उपबंजधत अनुसार, यहाँ ककए िाने वाले प्रमाणीकरण के प्रयोिन हते ु आधार संख्या धारक
की सहमजत प्राप्त करेगा।
(2) उि जनयमों के जनयम 3 के उप-जनयम (2) के अनुसार, आधार प्रमाणीकरण स्ट्वैजछिक आधार पर होगा तथा
मंत्रालय आधार संख्या धारक को पहचान के वैकजल्पक एवं व्यवहाया साधनों के बारे में सूजचत करेगा तथा आधार प्रमाणीकरण
से नकारन े अथवा उसे करान े म ें असमथाता िाजहर करन े के कारण ककसी भी आधार संख्या धारक को कोई सेवा िेन े से मना
नहीं करेगा, नामत: -
(क) मतिाता पहचान पत्र
(ख) पैन काडा
(ग) ड्राइववंग लाइसेंस
(घ) पासपोटा
(ङ) अन्य सरकारी पहचान पत्र
2. यह अजधसूचना रािपत्र में इसके प्रकािन की जतजथ से प्रभावी होगी।
[फा. स.ं सीए-18/03/2025-सीएयू और एएसआरबी]
ज्ञानेन्र िवे जत्रपाठी, अपर सजचव[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE,
(Department of Agricultural Research and Education)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 11th June, 2026
G.S.R. 475(E).— Whereas the use of Aadhaar number to establish identity enables individuals to receive
subsidies, benefits and services in a convenient and seamless manner, obviastes the need for multiplicity of documents
to establish identity, simplifies processes and promotes transparency and efficiency:
2. And whereas the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, after consultation
with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), had allowed vide its letter no. eF.No.22(4)/2026-CyberLaws,
dated 24th March, 2026 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agricultural Research &
Education (hereinafter referred to as the said Ministry), Government of India (hereinafter referred to as the said
Government) 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
Department of Agricultural Research and Education 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 (herein referred to as the said act):
3. And whereas, the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for usage of digital platforms to ensure good
governance, prevention of dissipation of social welfare benefits; and enablement of innovation and spread of knowledge
(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 Department
shall perform the Aadhaar authentication only for (a) candidates at various stages of examinations conducted by the
department and at the time of their joining; and (b) examination functionaries involved in the examination process, using
Yes/No or/and eKYC authentication facilities. (hereinafter referred to as the use case(s)].
4 Now, therefore, in pursuance of rule 5 of the said rules read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4)
of section 4 of the Act, the said Ministry hereby notifies the following, namely:-
1. (1) The Ministry, as provided in the Act, shall obtain the consent of the Aadhaar number holder for the
purpose of authentication herein.
(2) As per sub-rule (2) of rule 3 of the said rules, Aadhaar authentication is on voluntary basis the Ministry
shall inform to the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of identification and shall not deny any service
to the Aadhaar number holder for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo Aadhaar authentication, namely:-
(a) Voter ID Card
(b) PAN Card
(c) Driving License
(d) Passport
(e) Other Govt. IDs
2 This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the official Gazette.
[F. No. CA-18/03/2025-CAU & ASRB]
GYANENDRA DEV TRIPATHI, Addl. 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.