Aadhaar use okayed in tech institutions

The Ministry of Education has officially notified that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) can use Aadhaar-based authentication for students, faculty and staff across higher education institutions, including polytechnics and PGDM institutions offering AICTE-approved programmes.The move aims to simplify identity verification, improve transparency, and enhance efficiency in administrative processes while reducing the need for multiple documents. The approval follows clearance from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

The Aadhaar authentication will be used to establish genuineness and record attendance through biometric-enabled systems. Importantly, the ministry has clarified that the process will be strictly voluntary. Institutions must obtain explicit consent from individuals before authentication and must provide alternative identification options for those unwilling or unable to use Aadhaar. No service can be denied on the grounds of refusal to undergo Aadhaar verification.

The move is expected to end ghost faculty members in engineering colleges and other institutions. Recently, Anna University found that around 2,000 faculty positions were wrongly filled by engineering colleges in 2024-25.