NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a public notice announcing the universalisation of the Aadhaar-Based Payment (ABP) system for disbursing fellowships and scholarships under its schemes. The decision is a great shift toward a fully Aadhaar-linked payment mechanism for all beneficiaries receiving financial assistance through UGC-administered programs.
The official communication, released under the signature of UGC Secretary Prof Manish R Joshi, outlines that the Aadhaar-Based Payment system will now be the sole mode for transferring funds under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework. As per the notice, all fellowship and scholarship payments processed through the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal (SFMP) will be routed exclusively via Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts.
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According to the directive, the decision aims to standardise the payment process and ensure that funds are credited directly to the intended recipients without any intermediary complications. The ABP system, which relies on Aadhaar-linked banking details, will serve as the primary channel for all such transactions going forward.
It is clearly stated in the notice that all beneficiaries must link their Aadhaar numbers to their respective bank accounts to receive fellowship or scholarship payments. In addition to linking Aadhaar with bank accounts, beneficiaries are also required to update and seed their Aadhaar details on the Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal. This step has been made mandatory for all individuals who are availing benefits under the UGC schemes.
To facilitate timely implementation, all beneficiaries have been instructed to complete the Aadhaar seeding process on the SFMP portal by April 15, 2026. This deadline applies to all individuals currently receiving or expecting to receive fellowships or scholarships through UGC.
Furthermore, the nodal officers associated with institutions are responsible for verifying and approving the submitted Aadhaar details. These officers have been directed to ensure that all Aadhaar-related information submitted by beneficiaries is checked and validated within the prescribed timeframe. The deadline for this verification process is April 20, 2026.
In its communication, UGC has also urged both beneficiaries and nodal officers to take “urgent and proactive steps” to complete the necessary procedures. The commission has highlighted that responsibility for ensuring compliance rests with both the recipients of the funds and the institutional authorities managing the process.
The notice also says that even if a student has already linked Aadhaar with their bank account, they still need to update it on the SFMP portal. In simple terms, Aadhaar must be linked both in the bank and on the portal to receive payments.
To assist stakeholders in completing the process, UGC has made available a detailed Aadhaar updation manual on the SFMP portal. This manual provides a step-by-step guide to help users correctly update and verify their Aadhaar information within the system.
In addition, the commission has established an official communication channel to address queries about the new system. Beneficiaries and institutions seeking clarification or assistance can directly reach out via the designated email ID i.e., [email protected].
The introduction of the Aadhaar-Based Payment system reflects a procedural shift in how fellowships and scholarships will be administered under UGC schemes. With clearly defined deadlines and mandatory requirements, the commission has outlined a structured approach for transitioning to the new system.
Beneficiaries should note that there are no alternative modes of transfer under the current framework. This makes compliance with Aadhaar linking and verification an essential requirement for continued receipt of financial benefits. As the deadlines are near, all beneficiaries and institutions are expected to complete the necessary formalities within the stipulated timeline to ensure uninterrupted access to fellowship and scholarship funds in the upcoming financial cycle.
