The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) on March 18, 2026, notified regarding the Aadhaar Authentication for Fishers under the Department of Fisheries.
The following has been stated:
• The Government has notified the use of Aadhaar authentication to establish the identity of beneficiaries under schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana. This follows approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in consultation with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules, 2020.
• Aadhaar authentication will be used solely for identifying fishers and will remain voluntary. The Ministry must obtain prior consent from individuals before authentication. Importantly, no beneficiary will be denied benefits for not having or refusing Aadhaar authentication, as alternative identification documents such as Fishers ID Card, PAN Card, Passport, Bank Passbook, Driving License, Ration Card, or other specified documents will be accepted.
• The notification comes into effect from March 18, 2026.
[Notification no. - S.O. 1395(E)]
