UGC has new Aadhaar guideline for universities
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued an important guideline to universities with regard to students’ Aadhaar. In a notification, UGC has barred universities from printing Aadhaar number of students on degrees and provisional certificates. The body has told universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) that the same is not allowed.
The directive from the regulatory authority comes after reports that some state governments are considering printing students’ full Aadhaar number on provisional certificates and degrees issued by universities. The purpose is said to be verification of these documents at the time of recruitment or admission.
“As per norms, no entity in possession of Aadhaar number shall make public any database or record containing the same unless the number has been redacted or blacked out through appropriate means,” said UGC Secretary Manish Joshi in a letter that restricts higher educational institutions from printing of Aadhaar on certificates.
“Printing of Aadhaar numbers on degrees and provisional certificates is not permissible. The higher education institutions should strictly comply with the rules and regulations of UIDAI,” the letter added.
U-turn from earlier order?
Incidentally, in 2017 the UGC had directed all universities and educational institutions to introduce identification mechanisms like student’s photograph and Aadhar number besides security features in degrees and certificates awarded by them.
“Having security features in the marksheets and certificates issued by varsities are useful for verification and curbing duplication. At the same time, they help in introducing uniformity and transparency within and across the system of higher education in the country,” then UGC Secretary, JS Sandhu had told in a communication to varsities.
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