Delhi government introduces Aadhaar- linked portal to curb school admission fraud

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday unveiled a new digital platform aimed at ensuring transparent and corruption-free school admissions under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Disadvantaged Group (DG) and Children With Special Needs (CWSN) categories.

The initiative seeks to minimise human intervention, eliminate middlemen and strengthen accountability in the EWS admission process in Delhi’s private schools.

Secure cloud-based system for EWS admissions

The Chief Minister said the earlier software used for school admissions was outdated and vulnerable. It has now been replaced with a secure, cloud-based digital admission system.

“A comprehensive security audit was conducted prior to launch to ensure data protection and transparency,” Gupta said.

To prevent fraud and duplication, the new system mandates Aadhaar-based identity verification, digital verification of birth certificates and direct online validation of income certificates through an integrated database.

"This system will ensure that eligible children receive their rightful access to free education in private schools in a fair and transparent manner,” she said.

Fully online and automated admission process

According to the official statement, the entire EWS, DG and CWSN admission process will now be conducted online. Eligibility checks will be carried out digitally, and seat allocation will be managed through an automated system.

Parents will receive real-time updates on their application status, reducing delays and ensuring greater transparency. The government said duplication control mechanisms and Aadhaar linkage will curb malpractice and prevent multiple applications for the same child.

The move is aimed at safeguarding public funds, as the Delhi government spends crores of rupees annually on fees, uniforms and related expenses for students admitted under the EWS category.

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said the new portal was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the guidance of the concerned Union government department. He said the platform has been designed to prevent irregularities and ensure secure, transparent admissions.

Integration of e-District services with the CSC network

In a parallel digital governance push, the Chief Minister also announced the integration of e-District services with Delhi’s Common Service Centre (CSC) network.

Over 7,000 active CSC centres across the capital will now provide around 75 e-District services locally. These include issuance of income, caste and residence certificates; birth and death certificates; and services related to social welfare, food and civil supplies, labour and education.

Each service will carry a nominal fee of Rs 30 to ensure accessibility and transparency. The government said the initiative would reduce citizens’ dependence on private cyber cafés and curb financial exploitation.

Real-time project monitoring and asset management

Gupta also launched a comprehensive Asset Management Portal to create a digital record of all Delhi government assets, including land and buildings, with details of availability and encroachments accessible on a single platform.

Through the ‘CM Pragati’ portal, government projects will now be monitored in real time. The system enables direct tracking of project status, approvals, pending files and reasons for delays at the Chief Minister’s level, helping prevent cost escalation and improve execution efficiency.

Delhi IT Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the CM Jan Sunwai Portal and mobile app will allow citizens to lodge and track complaints online. A Cyber Crisis Management Plan has also been implemented to strengthen data security across government platforms.

More than 200 departments are currently operating through the e-Office system to promote paperless governance, and all government websites have been integrated onto a unified digital platform. A WhatsApp-based public service interface will be launched soon to enable citizens to access information and services through chat.

The digital reforms are part of the Delhi government’s broader push to enhance transparency, strengthen e-governance and ensure fair access to education and public services.

IANS