UGC directs universities not to print Aadhaar numbers on degrees, certificates

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) today in a notification directed the higher education institutions (HEI) to strictly comply with the rules and regulations of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and not to print the full Aadhaar card number on the students’ degree.

The UGC said it has been brought to the notice from news reports appearing in a section of the media that some state governments are considering the printing of the full Aadhaar number of university students on provisional certificates and degrees issued by the universities. The HIEs are also thinking to use it in verification of the documents at the time of recruitment or admission, the UGC added.

Also Read | UGC to host mega town hall to celebrate Chandrayaan-3 success; PM Modi, ISRO scientists to take part

The UGC has brought attention of such institutions to sub-regulation (3) of regulation 6 of the Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulations, 2016. The regulation provides that no entity in possession of the Aadhaar card number will be able to make public any database or record containing it unless the Aadhaar number has been redacted or blacked out through appropriate means, the UGC pointed.

As per the regulations, as they currently stand, printing of the Aadhaar number on provisional certificates and degrees is not permissible. The Higher Education Institutions are, therefore, requested to strictly comply with the rules and regulations of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the UGC has said.