-1775116607633.webp)
UGC Aadhaar-Based Payment System: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the implementation of an Aadhaar-Based Payment (ABP) system nationwide for the disbursement of fellowships and scholarships. This decision has been taken to strengthen the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism and to ensure transparent and timely payments to beneficiaries. UGC India shared this information on its social media account, X (formerly Twitter).
📢UGC has introduced Aadhaar-Based Payment (ABP) for disbursement of fellowships and scholarships.
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) April 2, 2026
💳 Payments will now be made only through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via the ABP system.
📅 Deadline for Aadhaar linking on SFMP: 15 April 2026
📅 Verification by Nodal… pic.twitter.com/1UkmaLVBGS
Under this new system, all fellowship and scholarship payments processed through the scholarship and fellowship management portal will be transferred exclusively to bank accounts that are linked with Aadhaar. Students and researchers receiving financial assistance under UGC schemes must complete the process of linking their Aadhaar with their bank accounts to continue receiving benefits.
What is the UGC's New Aadhaar Payment Rule?
According to an official notice, beneficiaries must first link their Aadhaar numbers to their bank accounts. Once the bank seeding process is complete, they are required to update and seed their Aadhaar details on the SFMP (Scholarship and Fellowship Management Portal) portal.
This measure is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance efficiency within the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. By utilizing Aadhaar-based authentication, the UGC aims to prevent delays, duplication, and errors in the disbursement of funds.
UGC Aadhaar-Based Payment System: What Are the Key Deadlines?
The UGC has also issued clear deadlines for completing the Aadhaar seeding process. All beneficiaries receiving fellowships or scholarships under UGC schemes must update their Aadhaar details on the SFMP portal by April 15, 2026.
Subsequently, Institutional Nodal Officers will verify and approve the Aadhaar details submitted by the beneficiaries. To ensure that payments for the financial year 2026–27 are processed without any delays, the verification process must be completed by April 20, 2026.
The UGC has advised both institutions and beneficiaries to complete this process as soon as possible. A detailed Aadhaar updation manual is also available on the SFMP portal to provide users with step-by-step guidance.
