In a significant move towards modernizing administrative processes, the Union Health Ministry has granted authorization to the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) for Aadhaar authentication on a voluntary basis. The decision, outlined in a Gazette notification published on November 23, 2023, is geared towards enhancing security and ensuring accurate identification within the system, particularly in the context of attendance tracking for officials, faculty, and students.

The Gazette notification underscores the voluntary nature of Aadhaar authentication, which will be utilized for verifying the identity of officials, faculty, and students on the portal. This authentication process will also extend to capturing faculty attendance through biometrics, employing Yes/No and/or e-KYC authentication methods.

Crucially, the Pharmacy Council of India is mandated to adhere to the provisions outlined in the Act, Rules, Regulations, or Guidelines governing Aadhaar usage. Additionally, the Council must follow the directions set by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Central Government regarding the utilization of Aadhaar authentication, ensuring compliance with evolving standards.

The decision to integrate Aadhaar authentication in attendance tracking is envisioned to bring about a paradigm shift in the security and accuracy of identification processes. By leveraging biometrics and e-KYC authentication, the measure seeks to streamline administrative operations and propel the system towards a more modern and efficient framework.

It is worth noting that while the move is voluntary, it is expected to offer a secure and standardized means of authentication, contributing to the broader goal of bolstering the integrity of attendance records and related administrative functions.

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