Public comments invited on draft amendments to Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules; proposes to enable Aadhaar authentication by entities other than Government Ministries and Department
The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has invited public comments on the draft amendments to the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020. Feedback may be submitted on the website of MyGov (https://innovateindia.mygov.in/aadhaar-rules/) by 5th May 2023.
Key Takeaways:
• Under the present Rules, only Government Departments are allowed to undertake Aadhaar authentication for the purpose of good governance, preventing public fund leakage and promoting innovation and knowledge. The draft amendments propose to extend the scope for companies other than Central or State Government to use Aadhaar authentication for verifying the identity of its consumers or users, given that the company would be using the same for the following purposes:
a. usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance;
b. prevention of dissipation of social welfare benefits;
c. enablement of innovation and spread of knowledge;
• An entity intending to utilise Aadhaar authentication is required to prepare a proposal with justification in regard to the authentication sought being for a purpose mentioned above and in the interest of the State and submit the same to the concerned Ministry or Department of the appropriate Government.
Note: If the Ministry or Department is of the opinion that the proposal thereunder fulfils any of the above-mentioned purposes, it shall forward the proposal along with recommendations to the Central Government for making reference to the Authority.
A copy of the draft amendments is linked below for ease of reference.
