The Government of Gujarat has enabled Aadhaar-based authentication for 20 high-demand citizen services on the Digital Gujarat Portal, aiming to make services faster, paperless and more transparent. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Announcing the move, minister Jitu Vaghani said the step follows recommendations of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission and covers commonly used services such as income certificates, SEBC certificates, non-creamy layer certificates and ration card-related services.
He said Aadhaar authentication will improve accuracy and reduce duplication, ensuring benefits reach eligible citizens. Applicants’ consent will be mandatory before authentication.
Once Aadhaar verification is completed, citizens will not need to submit separate proof of identity or residence, making the process simpler and fully digital. Authentication will be done through OTP or biometric methods, depending on availability.
The government clarified that those without Aadhaar or facing authentication issues will still receive services through alternative verification methods.
On data security, officials said full Aadhaar numbers will not be displayed, and only masked details (last four digits) will be visible where required. All safety norms set by the Unique Identification Authority of India will be followed.
The “Top 20” services available on the portal include income certificates (rural and urban), SEBC and non-creamy layer certificates (state and central), Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe certificates, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates, and multiple ration card services such as new applications, corrections, additions, deletions and duplicate cards.