PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026: Aadhaar Now Required, With a Safety Net for Children

Written by Shashank Shekhar Dwivedi | 17 October 2026 | Source: Official Notification

Your child does not have an Aadhaar card yet. Will the scholarship be affected? According to a new Gazette notification, a child cannot be denied the benefit for that reason.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has made Aadhaar authentication, or proof of an Aadhaar number, a condition for the PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026 benefit. The same notification, S.O. 5628(E) dated 14 October 2026, adds a safeguard for children whose authentication fails or whose enrolment is still pending. Read the official Gazette notification for the exact wording.

PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026: What Does the New Notification Say?

The notification comes from the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and is issued under section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. It applies to the Special Scholarship Scheme under the PM CARES for Children Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme giving scholarship assistance from Class 1 to Class 12.

According to the PM CARES for Children portal, the scheme was launched on 29 May 2021 for children who lost both parents, a legal guardian, adoptive parents or a surviving parent to COVID-19, covering the period from 11 March 2020. The portal lists a scholarship of Rs 20,000 per child per year for school-going children, though the Gazette notification itself mentions no amount.

The document is dated 14 October 2026 and was digitally signed and uploaded on 16 October. It takes effect from its publication in the Official Gazette. It sets no application deadline.

Does My Child Need Aadhaar? The Short Answer

Aadhaar is the condition, but it is not a wall. Anyone who wants the benefit must either undergo Aadhaar authentication or furnish proof of possessing an Aadhaar number. That is the core of the PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026 rule.

Two terms, in plain words. Authentication means confirming identity against Aadhaar records, through face, fingerprint or iris checks, or a one-time PIN (OTP). Proof of possession means showing that an Aadhaar number has been issued.

If there is no number yet, an enrolment application is required. For a child, it must be made with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The Department must also ensure enrolment, including through enrolment centres at convenient locations.

No Aadhaar Yet? Documents Your Child Can Use

Until a number is assigned, the notification lets a child below 18 establish identity through a combination of documents:

• the enrolment acknowledgement from the enrolment centre, containing the Enrolment ID;
• any one document proving the child is under 18, such as a birth certificate under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, an Indian passport, or a Class 10 or Class 12 board certificate or marks statement; and
• any one listed document with the child’s photograph that evidences the relationship with the parent or legal guardian, such as a ration card, a caste or domicile certificate issued by an officer not below Tahsildar rank, or a guardianship or adoption order.

Documents for children in child care institutions and for foreign nationals are also listed, and the Department may specify others. A designated officer checks the Enrolment ID on the myAadhaar portal to confirm it is valid and has not been rejected.

Exemption or Safety Net? What the Notification Actually Does

Anyone searching for an “exemption” should know the notification does not use that word. What it provides is more specific, and for families, arguably more useful.

• Protection for children (paragraph 4): no child can be denied the benefit for failing authentication, failing to furnish proof of Aadhaar, or having only an enrolment application. The benefit is then given by verifying identity and the relationship with the parent or legal guardian. The Department keeps a record, which it reviews and audits periodically.
• If biometrics fail (paragraph 3): another biometric mode or OTP must be offered wherever feasible and admissible. If neither works, benefits may be given after offline verification of an Aadhaar Secure QR Code (on an Aadhaar card, letter or e-Aadhaar) or an Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC document.

An enrolment slip is not a replacement for everything else. For the PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026, treat it as one part of a package that also includes age and relationship proof.

What about beneficiaries aged 18 or more? They need the enrolment acknowledgement plus one photograph-bearing document, such as an Elector’s Photo Identity Card, ration card, passport or driving licence. The paragraph 4 protection refers to “any child”, so for adults the notification points the Department to the exception handling mechanism in the Direct Benefit Transfer Mission’s Office Memorandum of 19 December 2017, available via the DBT Bharat website. It does not describe that mechanism in detail.

Your Quick Checklist

What families should check now:

• Does the child already have an Aadhaar number?
• If not, apply for enrolment with parent or guardian consent, and keep the acknowledgement slip safe.
• Keep age proof and relationship proof from the notified list ready.
• Keep an Aadhaar card, letter, e-Aadhaar or Paperless Offline e-KYC copy handy in case authentication fails.
• Follow the scheme portal and the implementing office for the submission process, since the notification prescribes no form or deadline.

More on student aid: see CareerView24’s scholarship updates and education news.

Official Sources

• Official Gazette PDF, S.O. 5628(E)
• PM CARES for Children portal
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• myAadhaar portal

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Aadhaar mandatory for the PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026?

Yes, it is a condition: authentication or proof of an Aadhaar number. But a child cannot be denied the benefit if authentication fails or only enrolment has been done.

2. What if my child has no Aadhaar number?

Apply for enrolment with a parent’s or guardian’s consent. Until the number arrives, the enrolment slip plus age and relationship proof can be used.

3. Are there any exemptions?

Not blanket ones. The notification offers alternatives: other biometric or OTP modes, offline QR or e-KYC verification, and listed documents while enrolment is pending.

4. Where can I read the official notification?

On the e-Gazette (egazette.gov.in) as S.O. 5628(E), Gazette ID CG-DL-E-16102026-277204. The PM CARES portal carries scheme details.

5. What if Aadhaar authentication fails?

Ask for another biometric mode or OTP. If neither works, offline QR or e-KYC verification is a is on the PM CARES for Children portal and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment website.

5. What should guardians do if Aadhaar authentication fails?

Ask for another biometric mode or OTP. If neither works, offline QR or e-KYC verification is allowed, and a child still cannot be denied the benefit.

Final Takeaway

The PM CARES for Children Scholarship 2026 update tightens identity checks without shutting any child out. Aadhaar is the main route, enrolment and supporting documents are the bridge, and paragraph 4 is the safety net.