Now, Aadhaar mandatory to avail benefits of Delhi govt schemes

The proposal, endorsed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, seeks to bring the service of issuing income certificates under Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. This provision allows the state or Central government to make Aadhaar-based authentication compulsory for identifying individuals receiving subsidies, services, or benefits funded through the Consolidated Fund of India of the state.

The income certificate issued by the Revenue department is used to determine eligibility for several welfare schemes, including tuition fee reimbursement for students from SC, ST, and OBC communities; pensions; and health-related financial assistance under the Delhi Arogya Kosh.

Using Aadhaar would help simplify service delivery, improve transparency, and ensure that benefits reach only eligible individuals, officials in the Revenue Department said. It would also eliminate the need to submit multiple documents to establish identity.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on November 25, 2019, had authorised state governments to mandate Aadhaar authentication for schemes funded from the Consolidated Fund of the State.

As per the notification, individuals not possessing an Aadhaar number currently but seeking benefits under the mentioned schemes will now be required to enrol for Aadhaar. In the case of minors, Aadhaar Enrolment ID or Biometric Update ID, along with a birth certificate or school ID bearing the parent’s name and signed by the school principal, will be accepted. Adults without Aadhaar can furnish the enrolment slip along with a government-issued document such as a bank passbook, PAN card, passport, Kisan passbook, or driving licence.

Saxena has asked the Revenue department to undertake a public awareness campaign to inform citizens about the Aadhaar requirement, so that genuine beneficiaries are not denied their entitlements.