Odisha Makes Aadhaar Mandatory for Government Certificates and Subsidies Under New Digital Governance Push

In a sweeping move to tighten oversight and eliminate fraud, the Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Department has mandated the inclusion of Aadhaar numbers on nearly all critical government paperwork. The order, issued on June 12, 2025, aims to streamline services and ensure that welfare benefits and land-related documents reach only eligible recipients.

The official circular makes Aadhaar compulsory for issuing income certificates, domicile proofs, land records, and other essential documents. Authorities say the goal is to link each service to a unique biometric identity, reducing duplication and misuse while accelerating processing times.

Aadhaar Becomes Gateway for Benefits and Certificates

The directive also applies to government subsidies, welfare programs, and land-tax exemptions. Whether a farmer is applying for a land concession or a student for a caste certificate, Aadhaar verification — through number entry or biometric scan — is now non-negotiable.

Officials insist the new regulation is well within the framework of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which enables the government to deliver targeted benefits more effectively. The decision aligns closely with the objectives of Mission Basundhara 3.0, Odisha’s flagship land digitisation initiative launched on October 20, 2024.

Digital Integration via SewaSetu Portal

Applications for land title corrections or updates under Mission Basundhara now require either an Aadhaar or PAN card linked to the applicant. All digital services are routed through the SewaSetu portal, which cross-verifies each request against biometric records to curb fake entries.

Already, more than eight lakh applications have been processed under the mission, each linked to a valid Aadhaar number — a milestone Odisha officials tout as proof of concept.

Public Concerns and Digital Divide

Despite the state’s digital enthusiasm, some challenges remain. A segment of rural citizens still lack Aadhaar enrolment, while others face issues due to older mobile phones not supporting biometric authentication.

For those outside the digital fold, the government has directed citizens to visit Common Service Centres (CSCs) or Public Facilitation Centres, where enrolment kits and support staff are available — subject to electricity availability in remote regions.

A Bold Step in E-Governance

Speaking to local media, a Home Department spokesperson said, “All government offices in Odisha will now require Aadhaar for documentation. This helps clarify who is getting what and helps deliver services faster.”

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has reassured citizens that personal details like name, phone number, and address remain secure, as only fingerprint or iris data is used to authenticate identity without revealing private information.

As Odisha races ahead in digital governance, the success of this Aadhaar-linked model hinges on ensuring every citizen can access and maintain their unique identity number — a tall order in regions still catching up with basic digital infrastructure.

Yet for state planners, each Aadhaar-authenticated application signals one step closer to clean, transparent, and tech-driven administration.