Voluntary aadhaar authentication to digitize and streamline academic and administrative workflows across Directorate of Technical Education and Anna University Institutions under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

No. 67] CHENNAI, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 Thai 28, Visuvaavasu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2057

Part II—Section 1

Notifications or Orders of specific character or of particular interest to the public

issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT

HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

VOLUNTARY AADHAAR AUTHENTICATION TO DIGITIZE AND STREAMLINE ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFLOWS ACROSS DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND ANNA UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE AADHAAR ACT, 2016.

[G.O.Ms. No.41, Higher Education (J1), 10th February 2026, தை 27, விசுவாவசு, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2057.] No. II(1)/HE/2(f)/2026.

WHEREAS, the use of Aadhaar number to establish identity enables individual to receive subsidies, benefits and services in a convenient and seamless manner, obviates the need for multiplicity of documents to establish identity, simplifies processes and promotes transparency and efficiency;

AND WHEREAS, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), had allowed vide its letter No. eF.No.13(6)/2021-EG.II, dated 29.09.2025 to the Higher Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu (hereinafter referred to as the said Government) for the purposes prescribed under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules) that the said Department may be allowed to perform authentication and be permitted the use of Aadhaar number during authentication for establishing identity of Aadhaar number holder and notify the same under rule 5 of the said Rules read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 [Central Act 18 of 2016] (hereinafter referred to as the Act);

the Directorate of Technical Education and Anna University institutions. Aadhaar seeding and biometric validation will verify the identities of students, parents, faculty and staff, enabling secure admission, attendance tracking, examination processing and affiliation workflows. Integrated platforms such as University Management Information System (UMIS) for all departments in Tamil Nadu and e-governance portals will use Aadhaar verified data to reduce duplication, enhance accountability, and support real monitoring. This initiative promotes transparency, operational efficiency and equitable access to student focused services across Tamil Nadu's higher education eco system [hereinafter referred to as the use case(s)].

NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of rule 5 of the said Rules read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Act, the said Department hereby notifies the following, namely:---

1. (1) The Department, as provided in the said Act, shall obtain the consent of the Aadhaar number holder for the purpose of authentication herein.

(2) As per sub-rule (2) of rule 3 of the said Rules, Aadhaar authentication is on voluntary basis the Department shall inform to the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of identification and shall not deny any service to the Aadhaar number holder for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo Aadhaar authentication, namely:----

(a) Bank or Post-Office Passbook with Photo

(b) Community certificate

(c) Domicile certificate

(d) Driving license issued by the Licensing authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 [Central Act 59 of 1988]

(e) Passport

(f) Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card

2. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

P. SANKAR, Secretary to Government.