The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on February 18, 2026, issued the notification regarding the mandate Aadhaar authentication or proof of Aadhaar as a condition to receive fellowships under the National Renewable Energy Fellowship Programme and National Solar Science Fellowship Programme
The following has been stated namely: -
• Beneficiaries without Aadhaar must apply for enrolment. Until Aadhaar is assigned, they can avail benefits using the Enrolment ID (EID) along with specified identity documents (separate provisions for minors and adults).
• The Ministry will facilitate Aadhaar enrolment and updates, verify enrolment status via the myAadhaar portal, and ensure proper document verification through designated officers.
• In case of authentication failure (biometric/OTP), alternative mechanisms such as offline QR code verification or Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC will be used. No eligible child will be denied benefits due to Aadhaar-related issues.
• The notification is effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, and safeguards including exception handling (as per DBT guidelines) will ensure that genuine beneficiaries are not deprived of fellowship benefits.
This shall come into force on February 18, 2026.
[Notification No. S.O. 901(E)]
