PM CARES scholarship for Class 1 to 12 requires Aadhaar, no child to be denied aid

The Centre has mandated Aadhaar authentication or proof for PM CARES scholarship beneficiaries. Children without Aadhaar will remain eligible through alternative identity and guardian checks.

In Short

• Students from Class 1 to 12 receive support under the scheme
• Identity and guardian relationships may be verified using listed documents
• Children without Aadhaar must enrol with parental or guardian consent

The Centre has made Aadhaar authentication or proof of possession of an Aadhaar number mandatory for receiving scholarship benefits under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

However, no child will be denied assistance for failing to authenticate Aadhaar or for not having an Aadhaar number, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on October 14.

The Special Scholarship Scheme under PM CARES for Children provides assistance to students continuing their education from Class 1 to Class 12. Beneficiaries will now be required to undergo Aadhaar authentication or submit proof that they possess an Aadhaar number.

"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," the notification said.

BENEFITS WILL NOT BE DENIED TO ANY CHILD

Paragraph 4 of the notification, however, states that "the benefit under the said scheme shall not be denied to any child" who fails to establish their identity through authentication, cannot provide proof of possession of an Aadhaar number, or submits an enrolment application because no Aadhaar number has been assigned.

In such cases, the benefit will be provided after the child's identity and relationship with a parent or legal guardian are verified through the documents listed in the notification, PTI reported.

Beneficiaries without an Aadhaar number will have to apply for enrolment. A child's application can be made only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The department will ensure the enrolment of beneficiaries who have not yet enrolled and help them update their Aadhaar details.

Until an Aadhaar number is assigned, children below the age of 18 can establish their identity by submitting an enrolment acknowledgement containing the Enrolment ID and proof of age. The accepted documents include a birth certificate, Indian passport, or Class 10 or Class 12 certificate or marks statement issued by a recognised school education board.

They must also submit a document carrying a photograph to establish their relationship with a parent or legal guardian. Such documents include a ration card, Indian passport, and caste or domicile certificate issued by an authorised officer, among others.

The notification also lists documents that foreign nationals may submit. For a foreign national below 18 who does not have an Aadhaar number, these include an Overseas Citizen of India card for an OCI cardholder, a registration certificate issued by a Foreigners Regional Registration Office for a Tibetan refugee, and a Nepalese or Bhutanese passport for nationals of those countries.

In cases involving legal guardianship, an adoption order or another document establishing legal guardianship and issued by a competent authority may also be submitted.

Beneficiaries aged 18 or above who do not have an Aadhaar number must submit an enrolment acknowledgement containing the Enrolment ID along with one of the prescribed identity documents carrying their photograph. These include an Elector's Photo Identity Card, ration card, Indian passport, driving licence, Class 10 or Class 12 certificate or marks statement, and specified caste or domicile certificates, among others.

The notification provides alternative authentication methods if Aadhaar verification fails because of poor-quality biometric information or other reasons. "If 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," it said.

The department will maintain records of cases in which children receive benefits through the alternative verification process. These cases will be reviewed and audited periodically. For genuine beneficiaries aged 18 or above, the department will follow the exception-handling mechanism specified in an Office Memorandum issued on 19 December 2017 by the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission under the Cabinet Secretariat.

Under the new requirement, beneficiaries must authenticate Aadhaar or provide proof of an Aadhaar number to receive the scholarship, but eligible children without Aadhaar or those unable to complete authentication will continue to receive assistance after alternative identity and relationship checks.

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