Mumbai: The University of Mumbai (MU), which has started giving soft copies of mark sheets to students, will disallow students who don’t have Aadhaar cards from receiving digital mark sheets. According to MU officials, digital mark sheets will reach students in 15 days’ time. However, students who do not possess Aadhaar cards will have to wait for 30 days or more in order to collect the hard copy of the mark sheet from their respective colleges or MU.

Several students who lack Aadhaar cards have taken issue with the decision. “I still haven’t made my Aadhaar card, as there is a huge line at all the centres near my home, and I don’t have time what with my assignments and exams. My college is asking that I register on the National Academic Depository (NAD), but that requires an Aadhar card to proceed, so how am I supposed to get my mark sheets,” said Krunal Wasind, a student of an Andheri-based college.

Anamika Sathe, a student from Kalyan-based college, also slammed the move. “Why cannot they create options for those who want a soft copy and those who want a hard copy? Instead, they are trying to force us to make an Aadhaar card just because we want our mark sheet, when it is our right (to be given it),” Ms Sathe said.

In order to possess a digital mark sheet, students must register online on the NAD system using their Aadhaar and mobile number. Immediately after this process, the mark sheets will be deposited in the academic depository. Students who graduated in the academic year 2017-18 will be the first batch to ‘benefit’ from this provision. The MU came up with the idea to bring about a smooth and efficient process of supplying mark sheets.