Odisha school and mass education department has made it clear that Aadhaar cards are not mandatory for admission in schools and no student will be deprived of getting admission because of the lack of the Aadhaar card.

In a letter to the district education officers, commissioner-cum-secretary, school and mass education, Aswathy S. said: “I would like to inform that the academic session for this year has already been started and admission is also continuing in some schools as per need.

“It was instructed earlier that the admission of students should be hassle-free and smooth and, in no case, parents shall face inconvenience during the admission of their children.”

The letter further said: “In this regard, it is brought to the notice of the undersigned that in some schools HMs (headmasters) are insisting the parents to submit Aadhaar card for admission of children in different classes.

“It is clarified that the children must be allowed to take admission in schools with or without Aadhaar card.”

“It is also instructed that after the admission, students may be facilitated for obtaining Aadhaar cards by coordinating with various offices of the district and Aadhaar is
not a mandatory pre-requisite for admission,” the letter added.