SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has mandated Aadhaar authentication for all individuals seeking services under its drug de-addiction programmes. This includes access to treatment, counselling, rehabilitation, and the regulated dispensing of psychotropic medicines, all facilitated through the newly established Drug De-addiction Registry Portal (DDRP).
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the notification, S.O. 196, was issued by the Health and Medical Education Department from the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, on July 10, 2026. It was brought into effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, drawing upon Section 7 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
Under the directives of the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, the use of Aadhaar is now a prerequisite for beneficiaries accessing the DDRP. This portal is crucial for monitoring the distribution of psychotropic substances in line with the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) framework. Officials state that integrating Aadhaar aims to streamline the identification of beneficiaries, reduce reliance on multiple documents, enhance administrative efficiency, and foster greater transparency in the de-addiction initiatives. The funding for these services, encompassing treatment, counselling, medication, rehabilitation, and medicine dispensing, is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The new regulations stipulate that every individual applying for benefits must either undergo Aadhaar authentication or present proof of possessing an Aadhaar number. Those who have not yet enrolled for an Aadhaar number are required to do so without delay. For minors, enrolment necessitates the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
The State Drug Controller Office has been tasked with assisting eligible beneficiaries who lack Aadhaar numbers or require updates to their existing details. This support will be provided in accordance with the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, potentially through the establishment of enrolment centres or by the office acting as a Registrar. Recognizing that some beneficiaries may be awaiting Aadhaar enrolment, alternative identification procedures have been outlined. These allow individuals to establish their identity using valid alternative documents or by consenting to electronic verification from relevant government databases where such facilities exist.
Specific provisions have been made for children under 18 years of age who do not possess an Aadhaar number. They must submit their Aadhaar enrolment acknowledgement slip, which includes an Enrolment ID (EID), along with one document verifying their age. Acceptable age proof includes a birth certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, an Indian passport, or Class 10 or Class 12 certificates from a recognized educational board. For children residing in registered Child Care Institutions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, a date of birth certificate from the institution’s authorized officer will suffice. Foreign nationals may use documents such as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card, a Tibetan refugee registration certificate, a Nepal or Bhutan passport, or an Indian visa or Long-Term Visa accompanied by a foreign passport.
To confirm the relationship between a child and their parent or legal guardian, one photograph-bearing document is also required. This can include a ration card, caste or domicile certificate issued by an Executive Magistrate or a revenue officer not below the rank of Tehsildar, a government or public sector medical or insurance identity card, an Indian passport, Class 10 or Class 12 certificates, adoption or guardianship orders, or any other document specified by the department.
Adult beneficiaries aged 18 and above without an Aadhaar number must submit the Aadhaar enrolment acknowledgement slip with the EID, accompanied by a photograph-bearing identity document. Accepted identity documents include an Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC), ration card, Indian driving licence, Indian passport, caste or domicile certificate, government or public sector medical or insurance identity card, identity card for serving or retired government employees, disability certificate, Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Card, adoption or guardianship documents, specified documents for foreign nationals, or other documents notified by the department.
Designated officers within the Health and Medical Education Department are authorized to verify these alternative documents by checking the Enrolment ID on the official myAadhaar portal to confirm the authenticity of the enrolment request. These officers can also seek assistance from other government bodies responsible for maintaining related records. The department is mandated to conduct extensive public awareness campaigns across various media platforms to inform beneficiaries about the Aadhaar requirement.
The notification also outlines procedures for handling exceptions, such as instances where biometric authentication fails due to poor quality of fingerprint, iris, or facial images, or for technical reasons. In such cases, beneficiaries may be authenticated using alternative biometric methods or one-time password (OTP) authentication where feasible. If both these methods are unavailable, benefits can still be provided after offline verification of the Aadhaar Secure QR Code or Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC document, following guidelines from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Crucially, the notification emphasizes that no child will be denied benefits due to failure in Aadhaar authentication, lack of an Aadhaar number, or pending enrolment. In such scenarios, benefits will be disbursed after verifying the child’s identity and relationship with a parent or legal guardian through alternative documentation. The State Drug Controller Office is directed to maintain, periodically review, and audit all such cases.
For adult beneficiaries, the State Drug Controller Office is instructed to adhere strictly to the exception handling mechanism detailed in the Cabinet Secretariat’s Memorandum dated December 19, 2017, to ensure no eligible beneficiary is deprived of assistance due to authentication issues.
The new mandate came into effect immediately following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The Chenab Times News Desk