Aadhaar authentication voluntary for NBE exams, clarifies Health Ministry

New Delhi: Through a recent Gazette notification, the Department of Health and Family Welfare has clarified that even though the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) may perform Aadhaar authentication for verifying the identity of candidates during various stages of national-level medical examinations, such Aadhaar authentication is voluntary.

Further, the Ministry has mentioned that the NBEMS shall have to obtain the concent of the Aadhaar number holder for the purpose of such authentication and it shall inform 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.

The clarification from the Ministry comes after the Central Government in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, after consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), had allowed the NBEMS, under the Union Health Ministry, on 29.07.2025, for the purposes prescribed under sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020.

Under these tules, NBEMS was allowed to perform authentication and be permitted the use of Aadhaar number during authentication for establishing 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.

In this regard, the Ministry mentioned that the "Aadhaar authentication shall be performed for verifying identity of candidates during various stages of national level medical examinations conducted by the said agency, using Yes/No or/and eKYC authentication facilities...as prescribed 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 Ministry/Department/Agency shall perform the Aadhaar authentication only for the said purpose."

Now, in pursuance of the rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, read with sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Act, the Central Government through the said Ministry/Department/entity has notified the following:

1. The Ministry/Department/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, Aadhaar authentication is on voluntary basis the Ministry/Department/Agency 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. Passport

c. Voter Identity Card

d. Driving License issued by the Licensing Authority under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.

"This notification is being issued in supersession of Gazette Notification No S.O. 3867(E) of Government of India dated 22nd August, 2025 and shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the official Gazette," the Ministry mentioned in the gazette notification.

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