Printing of Aadhaar number on certificates: Here’s what UGC says

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released an important notice regarding the display of the Aadhaar number on provisional certificates and degrees issued by universities.

In its latest letter to the Vice-Chancellors of all universities and Principals of Colleges, the UGC has cited certain news reports in 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, for subsequent use in verification of the said documents at the time of recruitment or admission.

According to UGC, sub-regulation (3) of regulation 6 of the Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulations, 2016 provides that no entity in possession of the Aadhaar number shall make public any database or record containing the same, unless the Aadhaar number has been redacted or blacked out through appropriate means.

“Under the regulations, as they currently stand, printing of the Aadhaar number on provisional certificates and degrees is not permissible," said UGC in its directive.

The UGC further said, “The Higher Education Institutions are, therefore, requested to strictly comply with the rules and regulations of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).”