Bhubaneswar: Aadhaar card will not be mandatory for admission of students in schools in Odisha. School and Mass Education Department Secretary Aswathy S has written a letter in this regard to all District Education Officers.

"It was instructed earlier that the admission of students should be hassle-free and smooth and in no case, parents shall face inconvenience during the admission of their children. In this regard, it is brought to the notice of the undersigned that in some schools, HMs are insisting the parents to submit Aadhaar card for admission of children in different classes. It is clarified that the children must be allowed to take admission in schools with or without an Aadhaar card," the secretary said in the letter.

"It is also instructed that after admission, students may be facilitated for obtaining Aadhaar cards by coordinating with various offices of the district and Aadhaar is not a mandatory prerequisite for admission," the official wrote.

"You are requested to communicate and inform all the HMs accordingly for smooth admission of students. Further deviation from this instruction will be seriously viewed," the official added.