Tag Archives: Aadhaar

Aadhaar Card has a 12-digit unique identification number issued by The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY)

The Aadhaar project was initiated as an attempt towards having an individual, unique identification document or number that would obtain all the details, including demographic (date of birth, gender, address) and biometric (fingerprints and retina scans) information, of every Indian citizen.

Aadhaar is not meant to replace other identification documents like PAN, passport, driving license etc. However, it can be used as a single identification document. Many financial and telecom companies also use it as a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification mode and to maintain profiles.

Aadhaar Card is a government project to help people to avail the benefits of government subsidies and government schemes

Brief History of Aadhaar Card

In 1999 after the Kargil war the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government set up an inquiry to find out the intelligence failure during the war. This inquiry committee was chaired by K Subramanyam that suggested restructuring of Indian intelligence.

In the year 2000, there was a report from the committee that suggested that citizens near the borders must be issued identities. It was a move to strengthen Indian intelligence. In 2001 a group of ministers headed by L.K Advani accepted the recommendation for an id card. The report suggested a multipurpose id card project that needs to get started soon.

Two years after in 2003 the citizenship amendment bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by LK Advani. There was a clause in the bill that said the central government may compulsory register every citizen in India and issue a national identity card.

In 2009, the planning commission issued a notification to establish a department called the unique identification authority of India (UIDAI). In the same year in 2009, Nandan Nilikani who was the co-founder of Infosys was made the chairman of this newly formed body called UIDAI.

In April 2010 the UIDAI started its program called the Adhar enrollment process and started providing training programs to the personnel who were involved. As of now more than 1 billion and 115 million Adhar numbers have been issued and linked to every possible subjects. From the beginning of the project in 2009 till date the government has spent a total of 8807 crore rupees on the Adhar budget.

The Supreme Court of India 0n March 27, 2017 ordered that the government cannot be stopped from using Adhaar identification for its non-welfare schemes like opening of bank accounts, filing of tax returns, verification of new and existing mobile phone numbers and user credentials etc. Many citizens have expressed their doubts and misconceptions about the Aadhaar Card. The court has also maintained that the government cannot make Aadhaar mandatory for welfare schemes and it has allowed the government to use it in some schemes, not permitted to be used as a mandatory requirement.

List of some government subsidies where Aadhaar is made mandatory includes:

• supplementary nutrition program
• crop insurance benefits for farmers
• welfare schemes under Integrated Department of Horticulture
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Janani Suraksha Yojana, National Mission for Empowerment of Women.
• Integrated Child Development Services of the Ministry of Women and Child Development
• Central scholarship and financial support given under National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship
• e-panchayat training benefits
• Soil Health Management Scheme and Soil Health Card Scheme
• Maternity Benefit Programme and Integrated Child Protection Scheme make Aadhaar Mandatory.
• Mid Day meal benefits.
• Mandatory Aadhaar for disabled children between 6-14 years and are eligible for benefits under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for women below poverty line.
• Aadhaar made compulsory to file Income Tax returns or applying for PAN. PAN will also need to be linked to Adhaar.

About Aadhaar Card

The word Adhaar in Hindi refers to “base” or “foundation”. The national ID Card proposal in India was initialized by K.Subramanyam in 1999 and the logo and the brand name “Aadhaar card” was launched by Nilekani in 2010.The main idea behind it was not only to have the basic information about an individual but also to ensure grass root level development in the country. There have been a number of cases when the benefits of government schemes does not reach the section of the society for which it was meant for. Thus to ensure that the targeted section gets empowered, the government of India has initiated a project of unique identification of every individual through “Aadhaar card”. In many countries around the world, a unique identity system is used whereby each citizen receives a number that holds all details validating to their identity under it. Likewise, Aadhar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY).
Today more than 1 Billion and 116 million Aadhaar cards have been issued with the highest number issued in Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra and Bihar.

Details of Aadhaar Card

The Aadhar Card along with the card number displays the basic details of the person. These details include:

• The name of the person.
• The Adhaar number.
• A photograph.
• The address of the person, as per the records.
• The person’s date of birth.
• The person’s gender.
• A barcode that represents the Adhaar number itself.

Eligibility Criteria for Adhar Card

The Aadhaar card provides a universal identity to person that he or she can use anywhere in India. However, this card does not equate to Indian citizenship. It is available for both resident Indians as well as non-resident Indians and even foreigners residing in India.

The specifics of Adhaar eligibility are:

• Any citizen of India can apply for this card.
• Children below the age of 3 years need not apply for Aadhaar.
• Non-resident Indians can also apply for the card.
• Foreigners who are residing in India can also take the Aadhaar Card.

How to Get an Aadhar Card

The Aadhar card is absolutely free. However, one cannot apply for an Aadhar card online. Citizens can only book an appointment online for an Aadhaar centre.

Documents Required for Aadhar Card

A person needs to be physically present and must go to the Adhaar center allotted to him and must carry proof of his identity like: –

• Passport
• Drivers license
• Identity cards issued by the government
• Birth certificates
• SSLC certificates
• PAN cards
• Voter identity card

A comprehensive list of documents can be found here

Fee for Aadhr Card

The Aadhar card form is absolutely free. One can get as many Adhar cards forms as they want from the Adhaar card center or download as many as forms he or she likes from the internet.

In case the Adhaar cards gets lost a person can get a duplicate Adhar card by simply downloading a copy of the Adhar card. E- Aadhaar and Adhar are the same thing. The only difference between them is that while the Aadhaar card is a document sent to you via mail by UIDAI, the e-Aadhar is the same document that you can get online.

Objectives/Use of Aadhaar Card

It is the simplest way to describing who you are. It contains all the basic details of a person. It contains both your biometric information as well as your demographic information.
The government of India provides a number of subsidies for certain section of the society. Most of these schemes have made Adhar card mandatory. This is done to ensure that such programs are not misused and those who needs it gets it.
Many companies use Aadhar as Know your customer’s verification mode. For example, you need Aadhaar to open a bank account, for booking e-tickets, for availing LPG subsidies, applying for scholarship in state or central university, or while applying for a passport.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs about Aadhaar Card)

Recent Updates about Aadhaar Card

 Aadhaar Linking – 5 Important Dates to Keep in Mind

The Aadhaar which is issued by the UIDAI has declared 5 deadlines dates to link Aadhaar with the SIM Card, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Financial institutions…Read more

Aadhaar to be linked with Driving License

On 15^th September, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that soon Aadhaar will be linked to one’s driver’s license…Read more

m – Aadhaar to be a valid ID proof for travellers in Indian Railways

On 13^th September, Ministry of Railways decided to consider m – Aadhaar (Aadhaar card on the mobile app) as a proof of identity for the travelers in any reserved class…Read more

Last Date to Link Aadhaar with PAN extended to 31st December

The last date to link Aadhaar with PAN to file income tax return was 31st August, which has been extended to December 31st now…Read more

A timeline of Aadhaar Privacy Case

The historic judgment came from Supreme Court that Right to Privacy is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution…Read more

Aadhaar will be Mandatory for Equity Market Transactions – SEBI

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has announced that Aadhaar Card will be a mandatory requirement for all Financial Market transaction and all Demat Account holders should update their Aadhaar Numbers by 31st Dec, 2017. Read more here https://rupeenomics.com/aadhaar-made-mandatory-stock-market-transactions/

Aadhaar Card Required for Death Certificates

Recently there were rumours that Aadhaar of the deceased will be mandatory for registration of death and obtaining the death certificate. You can check for more details here – Aadhaar number required for death registration 

Aadhar Enrollment in Bank Premises

After amending the Prevention of Money Laundering Act(PMLA), the finance ministry has made it mandatory to link all bank accounts to Aadhar after verification. Customers are required to link their Aadhaar with their bank accounts by December 31, if not their accounts will be rendered invalid and will be blocked and access to their access to their account will be allowed only after they link their Aadhar card with their bank account. In order to make these huge tasks smooth and hassle-free the government has asked all banks (private as well as public) to start the enrollment process of their customers for an Aadhar card within the bank premises.

Earlier only public banks were authorized to become UIDAI registrars but with a new amendment on Aadhar regulations 2016, all banks marked in the scheduled list are authorized to enroll people for Aadhar. While all the bank branches would not be providing Adhaar enrollment, customer seeking help for Aadhar enrollment will be directed towards the nearest enrollment centre. It must be noted that banks did provide this facility online to the customer before but still there were a number of people who did not apply for Aadhaar or who did not update his/her Aadhaar card. In such a case, customers can visit their nearest bank branch authorized for this role and apply for an Aadhar card or Aadhar card updates.

Now, get your PF claims within 5 days if applied online with Aadhaar

Your provident fund claims will now be processed within 5 days if you apply online and have your Aadhaar number seeded with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).

Link Adhaar Card with IRCTC

The Railways will soon move towards Aadhaar-based online ticketing system to prevent touts from blocking a bulk of tickets, end fraudulent bookings and curb cases of impersonation.

Aadhar Card likely to be required for NEET 2017

According to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the use of Aadhar for the students appearing for NEET-2017 will be the proof of the accuracy of an applicant’s details.

Soon, You Might Have to Prove Your Identity Before You Recharge Your Phone In India

With the rising digital fraud in India, the court has asked the Indian government to make it mandatory for the prepaid phone to prove/disclose their identity before they can recharge their phone numbers with credit.

Adhar Card to be linked with University Degrees Certificates

To try and curb fraud university degrees and certificates in future, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is thinking to link the Aadhaar card number and publish the student’s picture on the degree/certificate from next year.

Center Government to launch exclusive scheme for women entrepreneurs With Aadhar Card

The Centre will soon begin an elite scheme for women entrepreneurs, as per BH Anil Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.