Lok Sabha Question No. 3193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Iris Biometrics Exemption for Persons with Mental Illness
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Durai Vaiko

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION. NO. 3193

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 19.03.2025

## IRIS BIOMETRICS EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

## 3193. SHRI DURAI VAIKO:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the 'Biometric Exception Enrollment Guidelines' for Aadhaar card enrollment currently exempts  persons  with  mental  illness/neurodivergent  disorders  (especially  children  with  autistic spectrum) from mandatorily providing iris biometrics as this might intimidate and causemental/physical  uneasiness  including  claustrophobia,  short  of  breathness,  etc.  among  such persons;
- (b) if so, the mechanism followed by the Ministry to ensure the employees involved in the Aadhaar Card enrollment process are fully sensitised about the biometric exception guidelines regarding iris biometrics and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  exempt  persons  with  mental  disability  from  providing mandatory iris biometrics and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c):  In line with Government's commitment to ensure inclusion for digitally enabled access to benefits and services, Unique identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made special provision in its  regulations,  namely,  Aadhaar  (Enrolment  and  Update)  Regulations,  2016,  and  issued  Biometric Exception Enrolment Guidelines, laying down the procedure for enrolling persons who have missing fingers, the biometrics of whose fingers, irises, or both fingers and irises cannot be captured due to any  reason.  An  eligible  person  unable  to  provide  fingerprints  may  enrol  using  only  iris  scan. Similarly,  an  eligible  person  whose  biometrics  of  irises  cannot  be  captured  due  to  any  reason  may enrol using only her/his fingerprint. Further, an eligible person who is unable to provide both finger and iris biometrics may enrol without submitting any of the two and the supervisor of the Aadhaar enrolment centre is to validate such enrolment as an exceptional enrolment. In addition to above, in case any eligible person who is not able to provide biometrics due to mental illness /neurodivergent disorders  (including  children  with  autistic  spectrum),  there  is  a  provision  of  whitelisted  enrolment, where Aadhaar enrolment is carried out in the presence of a designated UIDAI official. Thus, every eligible person who undergoes the enrolment process by submitting the required information may be issued an Aadhaar number, irrespective of any inability to provide biometrics.

In order to ensure that the Aadhaar enrolment operators are aware of how persons with disability who may be unable to provide any biometric information enabled to get an Aadhaar number issued, UIDAI has  incorporated  exception  enrolment  procedure  in  its  online  handbook  for  persons  undergoing certification as Aadhaar enrolment operators as well as in the examination structure for the testing and certification  by  the  UIDAI-engaged  testing  and  certification  agency.  UIDAI  has  also  issued  an advisory  dated  8.12.2023  to  all  registrars  and  enrolling  agencies,  asking  them  to  ensure  that  all Aadhaar enrolment operators are made aware of the exception enrolment procedure, follow the same and render the persons undergoing such enrolment necessary assistance and advised them to conduct regular trainings of operators in this regard.

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