Nishant Saxena

In an effort to raise awareness and impart knowledge about Aadhaar, the unique 12-digit identification number, the Department of Basic Education in Uttar Pradesh has reached an agreement with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Regional Office, Lucknow to introduce a dedicated chapter on Aadhaar in state-run school textbooks, beginning from the next academic year.

During a recent meeting with UIDAI officials, Director General of School Education, Vijay Kiran Anand, stressed the importance of incorporating Aadhaar and its related information into the curriculum. Anand highlighted the need for a formal proposal in order to process it for government approval. The objective is to ensure that children have a comprehensive understanding of Aadhaar, including its benefits and applications.

Inspired by the practice in Punjab, where a similar approach is followed, the Aadhaar chapter in Uttar Pradesh’s textbooks will cover various aspects such as the enrollment procedure, cost, distinguishing characteristics, and authentication. To aid in the learning process, the UIDAI has prepared a document titled “Mera Aadhaar, Meri Pehchaan” (My Aadhaar, My Identity), which includes a dialogue between two students that emphasizes the necessity and advantages of Aadhaar.

Lieutenant Colonel Prashant Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General of UIDAI Lucknow, while talking to media, emphasized the importance of familiarizing children with the Aadhaar enrollment process, especially as it differs for children compared to adults. The dedicated chapter aims to equip students with knowledge about Aadhaar, its usage, and features. This understanding is crucial as children often benefit from various government programs, such as receiving free uniforms and mid-day meals, by providing their Aadhaar information.

Singh clarified that biometric data, including fingerprints and iris scans, are not collected during Aadhaar enrollment for children under the age of five. As a result, this biometric data is not stored in a child’s Aadhaar database. However, once a child reaches the age of five, it becomes mandatory to update their biometrics in the Aadhaar system.

To ensure accessibility, the UIDAI team has proposed the option of printing Aadhaar details on the inside cover pages of school textbooks and notebooks, if a comprehensive chapter cannot be included. Officials highlighted that Punjab already follows a similar pattern, incorporating an Aadhaar chapter in textbooks that covers the enrollment process, cost, salient features, and authentication.

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