In another step to bolster digital governance in the transport sector, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Wednesday expanded the scope of voluntary Aadhaar authentication for online transport services from the current 58 to 100 services.The ministry has clarified that people without Aadhaar card could still receive the services by presenting alternative identity verification.A new notification in this regard under Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, has been issued, superseding the previous one issued in November 2022.The revised framework seeks to fasten the delivery of transport-related services and make them securer and more transparent through Aadhaar-based identity verification for a much larger service category.The notification further clarifies that Aadhaar authentication is entirely voluntary and citizens who do not have an Aadhaar number or choose not to use Aadhaar for authentication of identity won’t be denied transport services.They can establish their identity by producing alternative documents before the licensing or registering authority, as provided under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.New rules say that the expanded list of services will be available through the Parivahan, Sarathi and mParivahan digital platforms. These will form the backbone of the country’s online transport service delivery system.Services where Aadhaar authentication has been extended include applications for learner’s licences, driving licences, licence renewal, duplicate licences, change of address or personal particulars, international driving permits, conductor licences, vehicle registration, transfer of ownership, issue of no objection certificates (NOCs), fitness certificates, vehicle permits, high security registration plates (HSRP), vehicle scrapping, payment of motor vehicle taxes, e-challan payments and several other online transport services.Officials say Aadhaar authentication will improve the efficiency of digital service delivery by enabling instant identity verification, reducing the submission of physical documents and curbing the use of forged or duplicate identities.It will also help eliminate multiple or fraudulent applications and reduce processing time for citizens seeking transport-related services.The notification is also in line with the government’s goal of faceless, paperless governance. “Aadhaar-enabled verification will minimise the need for repeated visits to regional transport offices (RTOs), allowing applicants to complete a larger number of formalities online with faster turnaround times. At the same time, the ministry has incorporated safeguards to ensure that digital inclusion does not come at the cost of citizen rights,” sources said.The notification says no applicant can be denied any service merely because he or she does not undergo Aadhaar authentication.Such applicants will continue to receive services after verification through other officially accepted identity documents, ensuring that the transition to digital governance remains inclusive.