**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on March 19, 2026, authorizes the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to perform Aadhaar authentication for recruitment purposes. The document outlines the voluntary use of Aadhaar for identifying candidates and examination functionaries at various stages of the recruitment process. It is effective from the date of its publication in the official Gazette.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scope and Purpose of Authentication**
* **Target Groups:** The authentication applies to candidates at various stages of recruitment/examination conducted by the NIC and to examination functionaries involved in the process.
* **Usage Stages:** Aadhaar verification may be used during registration, examination, interview, joining, and other related recruitment phases.
* **Verification Methods:** Authentication will be performed using Biometric-Base authentication, One-Time Password (OTP), and Demographic Authentication via eKYC facilities.
**Rules and Compliance**
* **Mandatory Consent:** The NIC must obtain explicit consent from the Aadhaar number holder before performing any authentication.
* **Voluntary Basis:** Authentication is strictly voluntary. Candidates cannot be denied any service or recruitment opportunity for refusing or being unable to undergo Aadhaar authentication.
* **Alternative Identification:** If Aadhaar is not used, the NIC must accept alternative identification documents, including:
* Bank or Post Office Passbook with Photo.
* Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card.
* Passport.
* Ration Card.
* Voter Identity Card.
* Kisan Photo Passbook.
* Driving Licence (issued under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988).
* Caste Certificate or Domicile Certificate.
**Impact Analysis**
**Candidates for NIC Recruitment**
**Impact**
Candidates are now able to use Aadhaar as a convenient, seamless method to establish their identity during various recruitment stages, reducing the need for multiple documents.
**Action Required**
Candidates must provide voluntary consent if they choose to use Aadhaar for authentication. Alternatively, they must ensure they have one of the approved alternative identity documents available if they opt out of Aadhaar verification.
**Examination Functionaries**
**Impact**
Staff involved in the examination process are subject to identity verification to ensure the integrity of the recruitment process.
**Action Required**
Functionaries must undergo identity verification as prescribed under the rules for the "said purpose" of recruitment transparency.
**National Informatics Centre (NIC)**
**Impact**
The NIC is designated as the department authorized to perform Aadhaar authentication and must ensure the process promotes transparency and efficiency.
**Action Required**
The NIC must implement systems to obtain and record consent, provide eKYC and biometric authentication facilities, and ensure that alternative identification methods are accepted without penalizing the candidates.
Key Entities Referenced
Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016: The primary legislation under which Aadhaar authentication is authorized for establishing identity.
National Informatics Centre (NIC): The primary entity authorized by this notification to perform Aadhaar authentication for identifying candidates during recruitment and examinations.
Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020: The regulatory framework that enables government agencies to use Aadhaar for purposive authentication in governance and recruitment.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The primary ministry that issued this notification and oversees the National Informatics Centre.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): The statutory authority consulted to permit the use of Aadhaar authentication for identification purposes.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-20032026-271091
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D0H0x3x2x0 26-271091
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 190] िई दिल्ली, र्ृहस्ट्प जतवार , माच च19, 2026/फाल्ग िु 28, 1947
No. 190] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026/PHALGUNA 28, 1947
इलक्ट्े रॉजिकी और सचू िा प्रौद्योगिकी मत्रं ालय
(राष्ट्रीय सचू ना-गिज्ञान केंद्र)
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 19 माच,च 2026
सा.का.जि. 196(अ).—यह दक आधार संख्या का उपयोग पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करि े हते ु व्यजियों को सजससडी, लाभ
एवं सेवाएँ सुगम एवं जिर्ाचध तरीके से प्राप्त करिे म ें सक्षम र्िाता है, पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करिे के जलए र्हुजवध िस्ट्तावेिों की
आवश्यकता को समाप्त करता ह,ै प्रदियाओं को सरल र्िाता ह ैतथा पारिर्िचता और िक्षता को र्ढावा िेता ह:ै
और यहदक, इलेक्ट्रॉजिकी और सूचिा प्रौद्योजगकी मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार िे भारतीय जवजिष्ट पहचाि प्राजधकरण
(UIDAI) के परामि चके उपरांत, 27 फ़रवरी, 2026 के अपिे पत्र संख्या 13(2)/2020-EG-II(Vol-8), के माध्यम से, राष्ट्रीय
सूचिा-जवज्ञाि केंद्र (जिसे आग े“उि जवभाग” कहा िाएगा) भारत सरकार (जिस ेआग े“उि सरकार” कहा िाएगा) को आधार
अजधप्रमाणि सुिासि (सामाजिक कल्याण, िवाचार और ज्ञाि) जियम, 2020 (जिसे आगे “उि जियम” कहा िाएगा) के
जियम 3 के उप-जियम (1) के अधीि जवजिर्िचष्ट प्रयोििों के जलए यह अिुमजत प्रिाि की ह ै दक राष्ट्रीय सूचिा जवज्ञाि केंद्र
(जिसे आगे “उि जवभाग” कहा िाएगा) को अजधप्रमाजणत करि ेतथा आधार सख्ं या धारक की पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करिे के जलए
अजधप्रमाणि के िौराि आधार संख्या के उपयोग की अिुमजत िी िाए और उि जियमों के जियम 5 के साथ पठित आधार
(जवत्तीय एवं अन्य सजससडी, लाभ और सेवाओं का लजक्षत जवतरण) अजधजियम, 2016 (2016 का 18) (जिसे आग े
“अजधजियम” कहा िाएगा) की धारा 4 की उप-धारा (4) के खंड (ख) के उप-खडं (ii) के अधीि अजधसूजचत दकया िाए;
और िर्दक, आधार प्रमाणीकरण (क) एिआईसी में भती के जलए एिआईसी द्वारा आयोजित भती/परीक्षा के जवजभन्न
चरण म ें उम्मीिवारों की पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करिे के जलए; और (ख) उि परीक्षा प्रदिया में िाजमल परीक्षा अजधकाठरयों की
पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करि े के उद्दिे से जियम 3 के उप-जियम (1)(क) के अधीि जिर्िष्टच दकए गए अिुसार हाँ/िहीं अथवा/और
1971 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
ई-केवाईसी अजधप्रमाणि सुजवधा का उपयोग करत े हुए (जिसे आगे “उि प्रयोिि” कहा िाएगा) दकया िाएगा तथा उि
प्रयोिि हते ु आधार अजधप्रमाणि स्ट्वैजछिक आधार पर दकया िाएगा; और उि जवभाग आधार अजधप्रमाणि र्ायोमेठरक-
आधाठरत प्रमाणीकरण, ओटीपी और ििसांजख्यकीय प्रमाणीकरण का उपयोग करत े हुए केवल भती के सभी चरणों म ें
उम्मीिवारों की पहचाि स्ट्थाजपत करि े के जलए ही आधार प्रमाणीकरण करेगा, जिसमें पिं ीकरण, परीक्षा, साक्षात्कार,
ज्वाइनिंग आदि िाजमल ह ैं(जिसे आगे “उपयोग प्रकरण” कहा िाएगा) ।
अतएर्, उि जियमों के जियम 5 के साथ पठित अजधजियम दक धारा 4 की उप-धारा (4) के खंड (ख) के उप-खंड
(ii) के अिुसरण म,ें उि जवभाग द्वारा जिम्नजलजखत को अजधसूजचत करता ह,ै अथाचत्:-
1. उि जवभाग, उि अजधजियम के प्रावधािों के अिुसार, यहाँ जवजिर्िचष्ट प्रयोिि के जलए अजधप्रमाणि से पूवच आधार
संख्या धारक की सहमजत प्राप्त करेगी।
2. उि जियमों के जियम 3 के उप-जियम (2) के अिुसार, आधार अजधप्रमाणि स्ट्वैजछिक आधार पर होगा और
उि जवभाग आधार संख्या धारक को पहचाि के वैकजल्पक एवं व्यवहायच साधिों की िािकारी िगे ी तथा आधार
अजधप्रमाणि करािे से इिकार करिे या करािे म ें असमथ च होि े की जस्ट्थजत में दकसी भी सेवा से वंजचत िहीं करेगी,
अथाचत:् -
(क) फोटो सजहत र्ैंक या डाकघर की पासर्ुक;
(ख) स्ट्थायी खाता संख्या (पैि) काड;च
(ग) पासपोटच;
(घ) रािि काड;च
(ङ) भारत जिवाचचि आयोग द्वारा िारी मतिाता पहचाि पत्र;
(च) दकसाि फोटो पासर्ुक;
(ि) मोटर वाहि अजधजियम, 1988 (59 ऑफ 1988) के तहत लाइसेंनसंग प्राजधकरण द्वारा िारी ड्राइनवंग
लाइसेंस;
(ि) िाजत प्रमाण पत्र; और
(झ) जिवास प्रमाण पत्र।
2. यह अगिसूचना आगिकाररक राजपत्र म ें प्रकाशन की गिगि स े प्रभािी होिी।
[फा. स.ं 06(01)/2026-कार्मिक]
डॉ राजेश कुमार पाठक, उप महाजििेिक
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(National Informatics Centre)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 19th March, 2026
G.S.R. 196(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 Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, after consultation
with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), had allowed vide its letter eF no. 13(2)/2020-EG-II(Vol-8),
dated 27th February, 2026 to the National Informatics Centre (hereinafter referred to as the said Department),
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 National Informatics Centre 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[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016)
(hereinafter referred to as the Act):
And whereas, the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for establishing the identity of (a) candidates at
various stages of recruitment / examination conducted by NIC for recruitment in NIC; and (b) examination functionaries
involved in the said examination process, using Yes/No or/and eKYC authentication facilities (hereinafter referred to
as the said purpose) as prescribed under sub-rule (1)(a) of rule 3 of the said rules and performance of Aadhaar
authentication for the said purpose shall be on voluntary basis and that the National Informatics Centre shall perform
the Aadhaar authentication only for establishing the identity of candidates at all stages of recruitment for NIC which
includes registration, examination, interview, joining, etc. by using Biometric-Base authentication, OTP and
Demographic Authentication [hereinafter referred to as the use case(s)].
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 National Informatics Centre hereby notifies the following, namely:-
1. The National Informatics Centre, 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 shall be on voluntary basis and the
National Informatics Centre 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) Bank or Post Office Passbook with Photo;
(b) Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card;
(c) Passport;
(d) Ration Card;
(e) Voter Identity Card issued by the Election Commission of India;
(f) Kisan Photo Passbook;
(g) Driving Licence issued by the Licensing Authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);
(h) Caste Certificate; and
(i) Domicile Certificate.
2. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the official Gazette.
[F. No. 06(01)/2026-Pers.]
Dr. RAJESH KUMAR PATHAK, Dy. Director General
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.