The Centre intends to permit organisations other than central or state government ministries or departments to use Aadhaar for the purpose of authenticating it in order to provide a variety of public services.
In order to accomplish this, the Ministry for Electronics and IT has posted proposed changes to the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules, 2020 on its website and is requesting feedback from interested parties and members of the public by May 5, 2023.
“It is proposed that any entity other than a government ministry or department that desires to use Aadhaar authentication for the purpose of enabling better access to services, usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance, preventing dissipation of social welfare benefits, enabling innovation and spread of knowledge, shall prepare a proposal giving justification as to how the authentication sought is for one of the above purposes and in the interest of state and submit the same to the concerned ministry or department of the central or state govern- ment,” a statement issued by the IT ministry said.
“If the concerned ministry or department is of the opinion that the proposal submitted fulfils such a purpose and is in the interest of the state, it will forward the proposal along with its recommendation to the IT ministry,” it added further.
At present, the ministries and departments are allowed to undertake Aadhaar authentication under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020 in the interest of good governance and to prevent leakage of public funds and enabling innovation and the spread of knowledge.