No. 78]

CHENNAI, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17,  2026

Maasi 5, 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

TAMIL NADU

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

[ 1 ]

Ex-II-1—(78)

TOURISM, CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT

AUTHORISATION FOR PERFORMANCE OF AADHAR AUTHENTICATION TO ESTABLISH THE IDENTITY

OF INDIVIDUAL FOR ACCESSING THE INTEGRATED TEMPLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PORTAL FOR

BOOKING TEMPLE SERVICES

[G.O.Ms. No.81, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments (RE1-2), 17th February 2026,

மாாசி 5, விசுவாாவசு, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2057.]

No. II(1)/TCRE/2(h)/2026.

WHEREAS, the use of Aadhaar number to establish identity enables individuals 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

eF.No.13(6)/2021-EG.II, dated 13.01.2026 to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

(hereinafter referred to as “the said 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”);

AND WHEREAS, the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for establishing the identity of the individuals

accessing the Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS) portal for booking of temple services using Yes/No,

or/and eKYC authentication facilities (hereinafter referred to as “the said purpose”) as prescribed under sub-rule (1)

of rule 3 of the said rules and the performance of Aadhaar authentication for the said purpose shall be on

©

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

2026

[Price: Re. 0.80 Paise.

2

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY

voluntary basis and that the said Department shall perform the Aadhaar authentication only for individuals accessing

Integrated Temple Management System (ITMS) portal [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 said department, as provided in the 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

said 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) Ration Card ;

(b) Voter Identity Card;

(c) Driving License issued by the Licensing Authority;

(d) Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card;

(e) Passport; and

(f)

Birth Certificate in case of children.

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

K. MANIVASAN,

Additional Chief Secretary to Government.

PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  THE COMMISSIONER  OF  STATIONERY  AND  PRINTING, CHENNAI

ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  TAMIL  NADU