Aadhaar now mandatory to avail benefits under skill development scheme for persons with disabilities: Govt
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
The Centre has made it mandatory for beneficiaries under the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities to either furnish their Aadhaar number or provide proof of having applied for it in order to receive scheme benefits.At the same time, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment clarified that no eligible child would be denied benefits due to the lack of Aadhaar or authentication failure.In a gazette notification, the ministry said Aadhaar authentication is essential for accessing cash benefits under the scheme, including transport allowance, boarding and lodging, conveyance and post-placement support.The National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP) is a central scheme launched in March 2015 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).It aims to provide high-quality vocational training to enhance the skills of persons with disabilities (PwDs), enabling them to gain meaningful employment and become self-reliant. The scheme is part of the larger "Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act" (SIPDA).The notification clarified that if an eligible individual does not have an Aadhaar number, they must apply for enrolment.For children, such application must be made with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.Until Aadhaar is assigned, beneficiaries can establish their identity using specified alternative documents, including birth certificates, school records or legal adoption or guardianship papers.The ministry has instructed its implementing agencies to set up Aadhaar enrolment centres at accessible locations or become registrars themselves to facilitate enrolment and updates for persons with disabilities.In cases where biometric Aadhaar authentication fails due to reasons like poor fingerprint or iris quality, alternative methods such as OTP-based authentication, Aadhaar QR code scanning or offline e-KYC verification may be used, the notification said.To raise awareness, the ministry will also undertake a media campaign informing beneficiaries about the Aadhaar requirement.A designated officer will verify submitted enrolment and identity documents through the UIDAI portal and may seek assistance from other government departments.The notification comes into effect from the date of its publication in the official gazette -- which is July 2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Nibe Limited signs agreement with with Israel's Elbit Systems; to manufacture Advanced Universal Rocket Launcher
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Private defence manufacturing comapany NIBE Limited signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement with Elbit Systems , a Israeli defence company for Advanced Universal Rocket Launcher partnership is aimed at manufacturing and supply of Universal Rocket Launcher ( SURYA ), which is a highly advanced defence system capable of engaging targets with precision over a range of up to 300 technology transfer will be the first time that such a sophisticated system will be produced in India, paving the way for both domestic and international markets, ANI reported"The Universal Rocket Launcher is set to revolutionise modern warfare with its remarkable capabilities and performance, positioning NIBE Limited as a key player in the global defense sector ," the company said in a release. Elbit Land Systems , a division of Elbit Systems Ltd. , is a global leader in the design, development, and integration of advanced land-based defense solutions. The company specialises in a wide range of platforms and technologies, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, unmanned ground vehicles, and combat vehicle modernisation and is known for its innovation, reliability, and battlefield-proven systems.
Hans India
4 hours ago
- Hans India
India's direct tax collections double as incomes rise, compliance grows
India's total gross direct tax collections (before adjusting for refunds) have more than doubled in the last five years, reflecting the high economic growth and improved tax compliance in the country, which has been encouraged with the introduction of the new digital technology. The increase in collections is backed by a 36 per cent jump in the number of Income Tax returns filed in the last 5 years, with around 9.19 crore ITRs submitted in FY 2024-25 compared to 6.72 crore in FY 2020-21 due to the robust expansion in the taxpayer base. The country's total gross direct tax collection stood at Rs. 12.31 lakh crore in 2020-21, which rose to Rs. 16.34 lakh crore in the financial year 2021-22, figures compiled by the Finance Ministry show. The trend continued in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as well, with the amount reaching Rs 19.72 lakh crore and Rs 23.38 lakh crore, respectively. This growth stems from a combination of economic recovery and improved efficiency in tax collection, according to an official statement. By FY 2024-25, the total Gross Direct Tax Collections climbed to an impressive Rs 27.02 lakh crore, which showcases the strength of the Indian economy combined with improved taxpayer compliance and the government's actions to expand the tax base, the statement said. The Indian tax ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth through various technology-driven initiatives in a phased manner. The current series of PAN (10 digit alphanumeric) was launched in 1995 offering advantages like unique identification, information matching leading to widening of tax base. Linking of PAN with Aadhaar was undertaken in 2017 to improve compliance and eliminate duplication. Further, in recent years, initiatives like the setting up of the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) in 2009 and the TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System (TRACES) in 2012 led to automated processing of ITRs and issuance of refunds and resolving mismatch of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), respectively, the statement said. The introduction of Tax Information Network (TIN) 2.0, a new tax payment platform, has been a trendsetter. With multiple payment modes, real-time credit of taxes, and faster processing of refunds, the department has not just streamlined the process but empowered taxpayers with greater flexibility and convenience, the statement said. With the establishment of the Demand Facilitation Centre at Mysuru, a central repository for outstanding demand has been created, which is a single reference point for both the taxpayer as well as the departmental officer. In the last decade, focusing on global technological revolutions, the Income Tax Department (ITD) launched PROJECT INSIGHT, building an integrated data repository, creating a "360-degree profile" of each taxpayer. This Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence platform represents a paradigm shift in how the department leverages data analytics for improving compliance and widening the tax base. Further, the Faceless Assessment Scheme launched in 2019 targets to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability by eliminating the physical interface between the taxpayer (Assessee) and the tax officer (Assessing Officer) through features like Automated Random Allocation and Electronic Communication. The Annual Information Statement (AIS) was implemented on the Compliance Portal of the Income Tax website on November 2021 which provides taxpayer's financial activities across the financial year, including records related to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Tax Collected at Source (TCS), stock market transactions, mutual fund investments, and other relevant financial data. Besides, the introduction of pre-filled returns, facilitated by the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summaries (TIS), facilitates filing returns. NUDGE, which stands for Non-Intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable Taxpayers, has also been introduced, based on behavioural economics and psychology, which refers to a subtle suggestion or influence or intervention that can change the behaviour of individuals in a predictable way without limiting their freedom of choice. Accordingly, Section 139(8A) inserted by the Finance Act, 2022 permits taxpayers to file an updated I-T return within 24 months from the end of the relevant assessment year with effect from April 1, 2022.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Digi Yatra gets more patronage at Coimbatore International Airport
The patronage for Digi Yatra, a facial recognition-based check-in and boarding service, has gained more patronage from passengers at the Coimbatore International Airport. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) sources said that 20 % of passengers are using the facility, which offers seamless and paperless entry, at the Coimbatore airport. The current average patronage is more than the 10% target set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The facility was implemented about a year ago and the patronage increased in a phased manner. Various awareness activities are also done to promote its usage. At present, the Coimbatore airport has three check-in e-gates dedicated for Digi Yatra. After entering the terminal, there are two e-gates for security check and one for boarding. AAI sources added that staff of an agency that handles Digi Yatra operation are ready to help passengers to use the facial recognition technology-based system, if they find it difficult. To use the facility, passengers need to install Digi Yatra app on their smartphones and register themselves by providing personal details, identification credentials like Aadhaar and upload a selfie to create a Digi Yatra ID, which can be used while booking tickets. Boarding pass or e-ticket need to be uploaded on the app before a journey. The travel document needs to be scanned at the check-in e-gate where the facial recognition system will verify the passenger. Credentials given to generate Digi Yatra ID will also be matched by the system with travel documents and facial recognition to give clearance. After the check-in, passengers will be directed to the e-gates for security check and for boarding.
