ESIC Makes Aadhaar Authentication Mandatory For Beneficiaries Under Social Security Code

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has made Aadhaar authentication compulsory for people covered by the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme.

The requirement comes from Section 142 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. Under this provision, eligible employees, unorganised workers and other beneficiaries have to use Aadhaar to establish their identity for registration and access to social security benefits.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment had asked ESIC in May 2026 to put administrative measures in place for Aadhaar-based identification and authentication. The ministry also instructed ESIC to follow the Aadhaar Act, 2016, including its requirements on privacy, data security and protection of beneficiary information.

How To Link Aadhaar With Pehchan Card

ESIC beneficiaries have to seed their Aadhaar number with their Pehchan Card through the ESIC website.

For this, beneficiaries need to visit the ESIC website and open the section meant for Insured Persons and Beneficiaries. They then need to log in using their user ID and password.

After logging in, the beneficiary will need to select the Aadhaar seeding option for the Insured Person. The beneficiary has to enter the Aadhaar number and complete verification using the one-time password (OTP).

Once the OTP verification is completed, ESIC generates a reference number. The Aadhaar details are then linked to the beneficiary’s ESIC record.

Which Benefits Come Under The Rule

Section 142 deals with Aadhaar-based identity verification for a range of social security services.

It covers registration as a member or beneficiary and access to benefits provided in cash or kind. The provision also covers medical attendance and payments for insured persons and their dependents.

Benefits covered under the provision include sickness benefits, pension, gratuity and maternity benefits. Aadhaar-based identity verification also applies to family members and dependents covered under the scheme.

For foreign employees, the provision deals with Aadhaar submission after they become residents under the Aadhaar Act.

Aadhaar Was Earlier Voluntary

The Labour Ministry had, in August 2025, described Aadhaar authentication of insured persons and their family members as voluntary for accessing social security benefits through ESIC.

The position changed in May 2026, when the ministry asked ESIC to implement Aadhaar authentication as a mandatory requirement under Section 142.

The ministry's communication also described Section 142 as self-executory. This allowed ESIC to implement the provision through administrative instructions without requiring a separate notification.

Beneficiaries covered by Section 142 will therefore need to complete Aadhaar authentication to access the services and benefits covered under the provision.