On October 8, 2024, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued a notification concerning the requirement of Aadhaar for beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme. The notification states that individuals seeking benefits under the scheme must provide their Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication. Those without an Aadhaar number are required to apply for enrollment. The Ministry is tasked with facilitating Aadhaar enrollment for beneficiaries, especially in areas lacking enrollment centers. Until Aadhaar is assigned, benefits can be availed by providing an Aadhaar enrollment slip and any one of several identity documents, including PAN cards, passports, or voter ID. The Ministry will ensure that beneficiaries are informed about the Aadhaar requirement through media outreach. If biometric authentication fails, alternatives such as OTP authentication or verification through physical Aadhaar documents will be employed. Additionally, beneficiaries who cannot establish their identity due to Aadhaar issues can still receive benefits by presenting a birth certificate and one other identity document, with a separate register maintained for such cases. This notification aims to streamline the process while ensuring that no genuine beneficiaries are deprived of their entitlements.
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 8th October, 2024.
S.O. 4364(E).—WHEREAS, the use of Aadhaar as identity document for delivery of services or benefits or subsidies simplifies the government delivery processes, brings in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly to them in a convenient and seamless manner and Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one’s identity;
AND WHEREAS, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry), in the Government of India, is administering the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (hereinafter referred to as the Scheme) with an objective to provide internship opportunities to the youth in identified companies over the next five years,
AND WHEREAS, under the Scheme, one time assistance along with a monthly allowance (hereinafter referred to as the benefit) is given to the youth participating in the internships (hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries), by the Ministry as per the Scheme
AND WHEREAS, the implementation of the Scheme involves recurring expenditure incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government hereby notifies the following, namely: –
1. (1) an individual desirous of availing the benefit under the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme shall be required to furnish proof of possession of the Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication.
(2) any individual desirous of availing the benefit under the Scheme, who does not possess the Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhaar, shall be required to make application for Aadhaar enrolment, provided he is entitled to obtain Aadhaar as per section 3 of the said Act and such individual shall visit any
Aadhaar enrolment centre (list available at Unique Identification Authority India (UIDAI) website www.uidai.gov.in) to get enrolled for Aadhaar.
(3) As per regulation 12 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, the Ministry is required to offer Aadhaar enrolment facilities for the beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled for Aadhaar and in case there is no Aadhaar enrolment centre located in the respective Block or Taluka or Tehsil, the Ministry shall provide Aadhaar enrolment facilities at convenient locations in coordination with the existing Registrars of the UIDAI or by becoming a UIDAI Registrar themselves:
Provided that till the time Aadhaar is assigned to the individual, the benefit under the Scheme shall be given to such individuals, subject to production of the following documents, namely: –
(a) Aadhaar enrolment identification slip; and
(b) any one of the following documents, namely
(i) Permanent Account Number Card/e- Permanent Account Number Card; or
(ii) valid Indian Passport; or
(iii) ration card/Public Distribution Shop photograph card/e-Ration Card; or
(iv) voter identity card/e-Voter Identity Card, whose details are displayed online on the website of the Election Commission of India or the Chief Electoral Officer concerned; or
(v) passbook with photograph issued by a public sector bank (as categorised by Reserve Bank of India), duly stamped and signed; or
(vi) certificate of disability issued under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016); or
(vii) driving license:
Provided further that the above documents shall be checked by an officer specifically designated by the Ministry for that purpose.
2. In order to provide benefits to the beneficiaries under the Scheme conveniently, the Ministry shall make all the required arrangements to ensure that wide publicity through media shall be given to the beneficiaries to make them aware of the requirement of Aadhaar under the Scheme.
3. Where authentication of the beneficiaries done by biometric authentication through face, finger print or iris authentication fails due to poor biometrics or any other reason, the following remedial mechanisms shall be adopted, namely: –
(a) in case the biometric authentication through face, fingerprints or iris authentication is not successful, feasible and admissible, authentication by Aadhaar One Time Password or Time- based One Time Password with limited time validity, as the case may be, shall be offered:
(b) In all other cases where biometric or Aadhaar One Time Password or Time- based One Time Password authentication is not possible, benefits under the Scheme may be given on the basis of physical Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar Polyvinyl Chloride card whose authenticity can be verified through the UIDAI provided quick response code printed on the Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar Polyvinyl Chloride card and the necessary arrangement of Quick Response code reader provided in apps store google and iPhone Operating System shall be provided at the convenient locations by the Ministry
4. Notwithstanding anything contained herein above, —
(a) no individual shall be denied benefit under the Scheme in case of failure—
i. to establish his identity by undergoing authentication; or
ii. furnishing proof of possession of Aadhaar number; or
iii. in the case of an individual to whom no Aadhaar number has been assigned, produce an application for enrolment; and
(b) the benefit shall be given to such individual by verifying his identity on the basis of his birth certificate and any one of the documents as proof, as specified in the proviso to sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 1; and
(c) where benefit is given under clause (b) on the basis of his birth certificate and any one of the documents as proof, a separate register shall be maintained to record the same, which shall be reviewed and audited periodically by the Ministry.
5. In order to ensure that no bonafide beneficiary under t he Scheme is deprived of his due benefits, the Ministry shall follow the exception handling mechanism as specified in the Office memorandum of the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India no. D-26011/04/2017-DBT, dated the 19th December, 2017 (available on https://dbtbharat.gov.in/).
6. This notification shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
KUMAR SRIVASTAVA
[F. No. CSR-13/26/2024] ANURADHA THAKUR, Addl. Secy.
