Summary: The Ministry of Cooperation, through Notification S.O. 5674(E) dated 16 October 2026, has notified voluntary Aadhaar authentication for verifying farmers’ identities during registration and approval on the digital platform of Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL). The stated purpose is to ensure that only genuine farmers participate in the procurement and distribution of seed through its portal. The notification records that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India, authorised the Ministry of Cooperation through its letter dated 24 April 2026 to allow BBSSL to undertake authentication for the specified purposes. It invokes rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, read with section 4(4)(b)(ii) of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. BBSSL must obtain the Aadhaar number holder’s consent for authentication. Under clause 1(2), authentication remains voluntary, and the Ministry must inform the holder of alternative and viable identification methods and must not deny any service because the holder refuses, or is unable, to undergo Aadhaar authentication. The listed alternatives are a Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card and a Voter Identity Card. The notification comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th October, 2026
S.O. 5674(E).— 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 authorised vide its letter number 13(9)/2023-EG-II dated the 24th April 2026, the Ministry of Cooperation, to allow Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) (hereinafter referred to as the said Agency) for the purposes specified 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) to perform Aadhaar authentication and to use Aadhaar number during authentication for establishing the 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 (hereinafter referred to as the Act);
And whereas, the Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for usage of digital platforms to ensure good governance (hereinafter referred to as the said purpose) as specified under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the said rules and the performance of Aadhaar authentication for the said purpose shall be on voluntary basis and that the said Agency shall perform the Aadhaar authentication only for verifying the identity of farmers during registration and approval in BBSSL’s digital platform to ensure only genuine farmers participate in procurement and distribution of seed in its portal (hereinafter referred to as the use case).
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 Ministry hereby notifies the following, namely: —
1. (1) The said Agency, 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, the Aadhaar authentication is on voluntary basis, the said Ministry 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) Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card;
(b) Voter Identity Card
2. This notification shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
[F. No. 20-MoC/107/2025-MoC (123945)]
RAMAN KUMAR, Jt. Secy.
