UGC Secretary Advises Universities and Colleges Against Displaying Aadhaar Numbers on Certificates
Pune, 3rd September 2023: In a recent development, Prof. Manish Joshi, the Secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC), has issued a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellors of all Indian universities and the Principals of various colleges and institutes, advising against the display of Aadhaar numbers on provisional certificates and degrees issued by educational institutions.
The letter, dated 1st September 2023, acknowledges reports in certain sections of the media regarding discussions within some State Governments regarding the inclusion of full Aadhaar numbers on university students’ provisional certificates and degrees. This proposal aims to facilitate the verification of these documents during recruitment or admission processes.
However, Prof. Manish Joshi’s letter draws attention to sub-regulation (3) of regulation 6 of the Aadhaar (sharing of information) Regulations, 2016.
According to this regulation, no entity in possession of an Aadhaar number is permitted to disclose any database or record containing the Aadhaar number unless the Aadhaar number is redacted or blacked out using appropriate means.
Currently, as per the prevailing regulations, the printing of Aadhaar numbers on provisional certificates and degrees is not allowed. The letter serves as a reminder to all Higher Education Institutions to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) concerning the use and display of Aadhaar numbers.
This advisory underscores the importance of safeguarding individuals’ Aadhaar information and ensuring that privacy regulations are upheld in all official documents issued by educational institutions across the country.
