Don't make Aadhaar numbers of PhD scholars public: UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities not to publish the Aadhaar number of PhD scholars on their websites.

The commission had directed all the universities to upload the data of their students along with their unique identification numbers.

“It is informed that the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 prohibits publishing and displaying Aadhaar numbers publicly.

“Therefore, you are requested not to publish or display Aadhaar numbers of scholars publicly,” the UGC said in a recent directive to the universities.

Backdrop
The UGC’s course correction comes at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition against mandatory registration of Aadhaar for various welfare schemes.

The issue has also been in focus with recent reports about Aadhaar data leak.

In June 2016, the Centre made it mandatory for students to submit their Aadhaar numbers for grant of scholarships, including fellowships, at higher education level.

Following an instruction from the Human Resource Development Ministry, the UGC directed vice chancellors to send Aadhaar numbers of students receiving scholarships under various schemes. 

The higher education regulator also directed the vice chancellors to upload details about their students on their respective websites.

Later in September last year, the commission directed all universities to maintain the list of all MPhil and PhD students along with details including name, topic of research, name of supervisor and co-supervisor, date of enrolment among others.
DH News Service