New Delhi, Oct 17: The Centre has made Aadhaar authentication or proof of possession of an Aadhaar number necessary for availing scholarship benefits under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, while clarifying that no eligible child will be denied assistance for not having an Aadhaar number or failing authentication.
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 provides educational assistance from Class 1 to Class 12, would be required to undergo Aadhaar authentication or furnish proof of possession of an Aadhaar number.
However, the notification explicitly states that benefits cannot be denied to any child who fails to establish identity through Aadhaar authentication, cannot furnish proof of possession of an Aadhaar number, or has applied for enrolment but has not yet been assigned an Aadhaar number.
In such cases, the child’s identity and relationship with the parent or legal guardian will be verified through the prescribed documents before the benefit is provided.
The notification further states that beneficiaries who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number will be required to apply for enrolment. For children, the application can be made only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
The department concerned will facilitate Aadhaar enrolment for beneficiaries who have not yet enrolled and ensure that their Aadhaar details are updated wherever necessary.
Until an Aadhaar number is assigned, children below 18 years can establish their identity by submitting an enrolment acknowledgement containing the Enrolment ID along with an age-proof document, such as 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 furnish a photograph-bearing document to establish their relationship with a parent or legal guardian. Prescribed documents include a ration card, Indian passport, and caste or domicile certificates issued by an authorised officer, among others.
The notification also lays down documentation requirements for foreign nationals below 18 years who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number.
These include an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card for OCI cardholders, a registration certificate issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for Tibetan refugees, 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 issued by a competent authority may also be furnished.
For beneficiaries aged 18 years or above who have not been assigned an Aadhaar number, the enrolment acknowledgement containing the Enrolment ID must be accompanied by one of the prescribed identity documents bearing their photograph.
These include an Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC), 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 also provides for alternative authentication methods in cases where Aadhaar verification fails due to poor-quality biometric information or other reasons.
It states that if a particular biometric-based authentication method is unsuccessful, another biometric-based method or one-time password (OTP)-based authentication should be offered wherever feasible and permissible.
The department will maintain records of cases in which children receive benefits through the alternative verification process and subject them to periodic review and audit.
For genuine beneficiaries aged 18 years or above, the department will follow the exception-handling mechanism prescribed in an Office Memorandum dated December 19, 2017, issued by the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission under the Cabinet Secretariat.
The PM CARES for Children Scheme was introduced to support children who lost their parents or legal guardians due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with assistance aimed at ensuring their care, protection and continued education.
