Aadhaar Card – Enrolment, Download, Status, UIDAI Services

Birth Certificate No Longer Mandatory for Baal Aadhaar Card

29-07-2021- As per UIDAI’s recent update, parents can now apply for Baal Aadhaar card of their newly born baby without the child’s birth certificate. They can simply submit the discharge certificate of the hospital along with Aadhaar card of any one of the parents to enroll the child for a Baal Aadhaar. 

UIDAI Discontinues the Aadhaar Reprint Service

04-05-2021- As per a recent update, UIDAI has announced via its official Aadhaar Help Centre Twitter handle that it will no longer offer the Aadhaar Reprint service. However, one can opt for a new Aadhaar PVC card by applying online. Read more

Central Government Extends PAN-Aadhaar Linking Deadline to 30th June 2021

1-Apr-2021- On March 31, Central Government has extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar number with PAN to 30th June 2021, in view of the rising difficulties of the covid-19 pandemic. However, in case you fail to link your PAN with Aadhaar by the deadline, your PAN will become inoperative and you will be liable to pay a penalty. Also, once your PAN becomes inoperative you will not be able to conduct financial transactions until you link your PAN with Aadhaar.

Free and Instant PAN Card Through Aadhaar Card

24-03-2021 – The Income Tax Department now permits you to avail your PAN Card instantly and absolutely free of cost using your valid Aadhaar card number through its official online portal. Once the request is submitted, the applicant can check the status of his/ her request using a valid Aadhaar number and on successful allotment can download the PAN Card in PDF format. The applicant will also get a copy of the PAN on the email id registered with the Aadhaar database.

However, when ordering instant PAN through Aadhaar, the applicant must ensure that he/ she has a valid Aadhaar Card, which is not linked to any other PAN. The applicant should also make sure that their mobile number is registered with Aadhaar and they do not possess another PAN. 

UIDAI Reiterates Aadhaar Letter, e-Aadhaar & PVC Card being Equally Valid

23-10-2020 –As per the recent update by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI),  ‘Aadhaar Letter, eAadhaar and PVC card are equally valid’ and individuals can now easily choose any form of Aadhaar as a proof of identity as per their convenience. However, it should be noted that it has to be validated without giving any preference to one form of Aadhaar Card over the other.

Aadhaar Letter is delivered via post and once it is generated, the same is intimated via SMS on the registered mobile number. e-Aadhaar can be simply downloaded through UIDAI portal and the PVC Aadhaar Card which can be ordered online and is backed up by the latest security features such as a hologram, Guilloche Pattern, ghost image, and microtext.

The Department of Telecom has allowed Aadhaar for Online Verification of Mobile Connections

29-09-2020: The use of Aadhaar Card/Virtual ID has been allowed by the Department of Telecom (DoT) for the purpose of online verification i.e. for e-KYC services for issuing new mobile connections to consumers, including outstation customers, and for bulk activations. It will be an alternate process for all the licensed service areas including the states like J&K, North East, and Assam. Also, the existing provisions for identifying customers shall be continued in the same way. Read more

Aadhaar-Ration Linking Extended  till 30th September 2020

13-05-2020- Due to the current nationwide lockdown, the date for linking Aadhaar with Ration Card has now been extended till 30th September by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution for all the states and UTs.

In case the applicant is not able to provide Aadhaar Number on or before the deadline, his/her ration card will not be cancelled. It is also worth mentioning that no beneficiary will be denied ration if the person cannot furnish his Aadhaar card on the spot during the lockdown period.

The process of linking Aadhaar with Ration Card can be done both online and offline. However, the online linking facility differs from state to state. Read more

UIDAI Permits Common Service Centres to Update Aadhaar Details

05-05-2020 –The Common Service Centres have now been allowed to update Aadhaar at 20,000 centres by UIDAI that run as Banking Correspondents (BCs).  However, these centres are not allowed to take requests for Aadhaar from the new applicants. CSCs work in addition to Aadhaar Enrolment Centres that function from either bank branches or post offices.

Moreover, Aadhaar Update will be done per the guidelines of UIDAI. Around 20 crore Aadhaarcards have been made available to applicants by CSCs since services were interrupted, but many could not get their Aadhaar Authentication Services completed in the rural area. Now amid the nation-wide lockdown, it will be easy and convenient for the applicants to update Aadhaar at these Common Service Centres instead of visiting bank branch/post offices.

The date of linking Aadhaar with PAN has also been extended to 31st March 2021.

UIDAI launches 28 Aadhaar Seva Kendra across the country

02-Jan-2020– The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has set up an exclusive single-stop destination ‘Aadhaar Seva Kendra’ or ‘ASK’ for all aadhaar services for its Indian citizens. With this exclusive set up, the UIDAI will offer Aadhaar Enrolment and update related to Aadhaar services. In its first phase, the UIDAI has planned to set up 114 Aadhaar Seva Kendra across 53 cities all over India of which 28 ASK has been opened. These include metro cities, state capitals and Union Territories. Aadhaar Seva Kendra will run along with 35,000 Aadhar Kendras which is already being run by banks, post offices, BSNL and state governments.

The ASK will be opened for all 7 days a week from 9:30 A.M to 5:30 P.M. Apart from Aadhaar Seva Kendra, the UIDAI has also launched the online appointment booking facility for all its residents where they can book an appointment for aadhaar enrolment and update all aadhaar services.

Income Tax Department Extends the deadline for PAN-Aadhaar Linking to 31st March 2020

31-Dec-2019- On December 31, Income Tax Department has extended the deadline to link Aadhaar and PAN to 31st March 2020.

Income Tax Department Confirms Dec 31 as a deadline for PAN-Aadhaar Linking

15-Dec-2019- On December 15, Income Tax Department has announced that it is mandatory to link PAN card with Aadhaar card by December 31, 2019, from the earlier September 30 deadline. After this announcement, the Income Tax Department has said, “If someone fails to meet PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline, their income tax return or ITR will get rejected and their PAN card will become inoperative.”

Reprinted Aadhaar will now be delivered within 15 Days through mAadhaar App

13-Dec-2019- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced that people can now order to reprint Aadhaar from their mAadhaar App other than visiting the official website of UIDAI. The authority launched the latest version of mAadhaar App which can be downloaded by both-Android and iOS users. For getting this reprint, Aadhaar cardholders are required to pay a service charge of ₹50, and the reprinted Aadhaar will be delivered within 15 days to the registered address mentioned in your Aadhaar.

Union Cabinet Passes the Aadhaar Ordinance for Voluntary KYC Use

1-March-2019 – Union cabinet has approved the Aadhaar ordinance that allows people to voluntarily furnish their Aadhaar card for opening a bank account or applying for a new SIM card. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed in the Lok Sabha on 4th January but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. The ordinance makes provision for hefty fine and also imprisonment up to 3 years in some cases for violating rules defined in the ordinance.

Linking PAN with Aadhaar Still Mandatory: Supreme Court

7-February-2019 – The Supreme Court of India has clarified that taxpayers have to link their PAN card with Aadhaar. The judgement was passed in the light of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act under which the government has made it mandatory to provide Aadhaar at the time of filing Income Tax Returns. The last date for linking PAN with Aadhar is set to 31^st March 2019 by CBDT.

UIDAI Allows Banks to Continue AEPS Transaction

04-Dec-2018 – UIDAI has allowed banks to continue providing AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) facilities to account holders. Some banks had terminated the AEPS service owing to the Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutional validity of Aadhaar. After the approval of UIDAI, banks will be able to provide these facilities to the beneficiaries of government welfare schemes through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

Supreme Court Restores the Constitutional Validity of Aadhaar

27-Sep-2018 – The 5-judges constitutional bench of Supreme Court has given the judgement that Aadhaar is a constitutional valid document and it will still be mandatory for new PAN cards as well as at the time of filing Income Tax Returns (ITR). However, the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar will not be mandatory for opening bank accounts, new mobile connections, school admissions, etc. Even private companies cannot ask for Aadhaar card of their customers.

Plastic Aadhaar Cards can Make QR Code Dysfunctional, Says UIDAI

24-Sep-2018 – The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said that a plastic Aadhaar card can often become unusable because of the lamination, which can make the QR code dysfunctional. The Aadhaar body said a print out of the Aadhaar on an ordinary document or an mAadhaar was a valid document. It also said people should not share their personal details or Aadhaar number with unauthorized agencies as they can be misused by them.

Biometrics Data is now safe with Lock Facility: UIDAI

20-Sep-2018 – The UIDAI has initiated the security measures for Aadhaar card holders to safeguard their biometrics data following the simple process of Enable/Disable Biometric Locking visiting the official portal of Aadhaar. Cardholders need to go online in order to get their processing done. The UIDAI has ensured the safety regarding Aadhaar data leak with initiating the locking facility.

Schools Cannot Deny Admission for Lack of Aadhaar: UIDAI

5-Sep-2018 – On 5 Sept, 2018 government agency UIDAI said that absence of Aadhaar is no longer a hurdle for taking admission in schools for students. “It is the responsibility of schools to provide Aadhaar enrolment and update facility to students to enjoy their due benefits and rights”, said the UIDAI. In an official circular, the UIDAI addressed the Chief Secretaries of State stating that it is aware of instances where some schools are refusing admission in absence of Aadhaar. The UIDAI has also encouraged schools to co-ordinate with the institutions like local banks, post offices, state education department and district administration for special camp facility in the premises to provide Aadhaar enrolment and update facility in the premises.

Enrolment agencies to give free e-Aadhaar printouts in flood-hit Kerala

22-Aug-2018 – The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked enrolment agencies, including banks and post offices, to help people in Kerala retrieve their Aadhaar number and get free printouts of the document if they lost it in the floods. Name and biometric authentication of the card holder will be needed to get back the number or document. UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said enrolment agencies can even visit the relief camps to help people in this direction.

Can’t open bank accounts without biometric/OTP check for Aadhaar: UIDAI

21-Aug-2018 – To open a bank account, just the submission of a physical Aadhaar card or its photocopy without a biometric or OTP authentication would not suffice, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said. According to RBI circulars, it is mandatory for a bank to go ahead with biometric or OTP authentication before considering Aadhaar for banking transaction or KYC.

UIDAI tells telcos to use face authentication feature from Sept 15

20-Aug-2018 – Aadhaar-issuing body UIDAI has finally announced a phased rollout of face recognition feature as an additional mode of authentication, starting with telecom service providers from September 15. The Authority had earlier planned to roll out face recognition feature from July 1, a target that was later pushed to August 1.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced that from September 15, telecom service providers will have to use face recognition feature as an additional mode of authentication.

Correcting date of birth on Aadhaar card more than once Gets Difficult

10-Aug-2018 – Updating the date of birth on an Aadhaar card more than once is going to get difficult. A recent notification by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) says that correction of the date of birth is allowed just once. However, in case of the need of correcting it the second time, a resident will have to visit the Regional Office (RO) of the UIDAI.

Proof of Residence not Needed to Update Aadhar Address from April 2019

3-Aug-2018 – Aadhaar holders without a valid proof of residence of their current location can update their address through a new service that the UIDAI proposes to start from April 1, 2019. By using a letter with a secret PIN, residents can change their address without undergoing any hassle. People staying in rented accommodation often encounter roadblocks in updating their address that prevents them from availing services for which Aadhaar is needed. The new service will make life easy for many such people.

Delhi Government Delinks Aadhaar from the Widow, Old Age Pensions

31-July-2018 – Delhi Government has decided to do away with the requirement of Aadhaar card to avail benefits on widow and old age pension. In a state cabinet meeting, the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal gave nod to the proposal presented by the Delhi Social Welfare Department for Delhi residents. The Delhi CM claimed that the decision was taken because a lot of people were suffering due to the inability of banks to link Aadhaar with bank accounts. The Social Welfare Department will now remit all pensions stopped due to the lack of Aadhaar.

Deadline for Linking Aadhaar with PAN Extended Till 31st March 2019

16-July-2018 – The Central Board of Direct taxes (CBDT), in a fresh circular dated 30th June 2018, has extended the Aadhaar-PAN linking deadline to 31st March 2019. Earlier, the Income Tax Department had made it compulsory for assessees to link their PAN cards with Aadhaar in order to process their Income Tax Returns (ITR). It was said that the Income Tax Department will not process the ITR forms of assessees whose both documents would not be linked. However, with this fresh extension, assessees who have not been able to link their PAN with Aadhaar have got some respite this year.

UIDAI Launches Aadhaar Update History Feature in Beta Mode

12-June-2018 – UIDAI has launched the facility to check Aadhaar update history online through which a user can check all update requests placed in the past. This will help users to keep a tab on when each update was done and what details were updated. Results are displayed in a detailed tabular format clearly mentioning the name, date of birth, mobile number, email id, gender and address along with the photograph of the user changed after the update.

Aadhaar Linking Deadline for Welfare Schemes Extended till 30^th June

29-March-2018 – The government has extended the Aadhaar linking deadline with various welfare schemes from 31st march to 30th June 2018. The Supreme Court had refused to extend the deadline to which the central government provided the respite to those who were not able to enrol for Aadhaar by now. Such people who qualify for different welfare schemes but do not have an Aadhaar can enrol for Aadhaar now and link their documents with Aadhaar before the new deadline ends.

Aadhaar – PAN linking deadline extended to 30^th June

28-March-2018 – The Central board of Direct Taxes has extended the Aadhaar-PAN linking deadline from 31st March to 30th June. This outcome has come after the Supreme Court extended the Aadhaar linking deadline with various instruments indefinitely from March 31st while hearing cases against the constitutional validity of Aadhaar. The extension has come as a relief to people who were not able to link their PAN cards with Aadhaar till now.

Supreme Court Denies Extending Aadhaar Linking Deadline of March 31^st for Welfare Schemes

28-March-2018 – The Supreme Court has refused to extend the Aadhaar linking deadline with government welfare schemes of March 31st, 2018. Earlier, the five-judge constitution bench, headed by the CJI Dipak Misra, had extended the Aadhaar linking deadline with bank accounts, mobile number and other instruments indefinitely. Now, people who avail benefits under government welfare schemes have to link their Aadhaar with these schemes or they will be deprived of the benefits under these schemes from 1st April 2018.

Face ID to be Used for Aadhaar Authentication From July 1

27-March-2018 – UIDAI has informed the Supreme Court that it is going to start the face ID detection to authenticate Aadhaar for those individuals who have poor biometrics to curb authentication failures in those cases. As per the organisation, they already have the photograph of Aadhaar holders that can be used for authentication. This will help a huge section of senior citizens who, in some cases, are deprived of the pension benefits and provident funds due to unapproved authentications.

Aadhaar Linking Deadline Extended by the Supreme Court

19-March-2018 – The Constitutional bench of Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice Dipak Mishra has extended the Aadhaar linking deadline indefinitely. Earlier, the last date for linking Aadhaar with various schemes was 31st March 2018. However, Aadhaar will still be mandatory for opening new bank accounts, tatkal passport and availing subsidies under various government schemes.

Aadhaar Linking with Flight Tickets to Enable Faster Airport Entry Soon

23-Nov-2017 – Domestic passengers will soon be able to gain access to the airport terminals faster than normal flyers. They have to just mention their Aadhaar at the time of air-ticket booking,. These passengers will be able to avail seamless travel experience At Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Vijaywada airports from 2018 under the Central Government’s “digi yatra” programme.

IRDAI Makes Aadhaar Linking with Insurance Policies Mandatory

09-Nov-2017 – Insurance regulator IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has made Aadhaar linking with insurance policies compulsory. General insurance as well as life insurance companies will have to implement this directive immediately and start the linking process. IRDAI said, “These rules have statutory force and, as such, life and general insurers (including standalone health insurers) have to implement them without awaiting further instructions”.

Aadhaar Linking for Postal Accounts Deadline 31st December

06-Nov-2017 – In order to help postal account holders meet the 31^st December 2017 deadline for linking of account with Aadhaar and mobile number, the Department of Posts (DoP) has unveiled 585 additional Aadhaar enrollment centres in Andhra Pradesh. These new centres are in addition to the 1595 post offices in the state that already provide similar services.

Aadhaar verified Passengers Can Book Upto 12 Railway Tickets Online in a Month

03-Nov-2017 – In their bid to encourage people for Aadhaar enrolment, Indian railways has announced the increase in monthly online railway ticket booking quota for Aadhaar verified passengers. Now, those who have verified Aadhaar can book up to 12 railway tickets online in a month, which was earlier restricted to 6. The move has came in effect from 26^th October 2017 and is being hailed as an innovative way of encouraging people to link Aadhaar with their IRCTC accounts.

Now Link Aadhaar With Mobile Using OTP

02-Nov-2017 – A tweet posted by UIDAI on Nov 2 stated that from December 1, 2017, users will be able to link their mobile number with Aadhaar through OTP (one-time password) received on their registered mobile number. Users will no longer need to visit telecom service provider centres as from next month; they will be able to link their mobile number and Aadhaar on their own from the comfort of their home.

Telecom Operators to display the reverification process on their website by December

31^st Oct 2017 – UIDAI and the Department of Telecom (DoT) are making a framework which will help in linking Aadhaar with mobile numbers and their reverification. Mobile operators will have to display this data on their website by December. DoT has proposed three new facilities for linking Aadhaar with mobile numbers – OTP-based method, IVRS and through the telecom operator’s app. Telecom secretary, Aruna Sundararanjan said, “Operators have to inform DoT by November 15 on the mechanism by which all options for linking Aadhaar with mobile number are made available on their portals. This will then be verified by DoT and UIDAI over another two weeks. So we hope that by December, citizens will know about the options that they can choose online.”

Bangalore International Airport to Become Aadhaar-enabled by March

12^th Oct 2017 – Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has come up with a project to make passengers’ experience at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) smooth and quick. The authority has decided to implement Aadhaar-enabled access system at the airport. This will help in reducing the verification time and screening time would be reduced from 25 minutes to as less as 10 minutes. The first stage would be brought into effect by March 2018. Domestic airlines would be brought on-board by June 2018 whereas all international airlines would also be brought on-board by October 2018.

Government Allocates Rs 2,000 Crores for Setting up Aadhaar Centres in Post Offices

11^th Oct 2017 – The Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Rs 2,000 Crores for setting up Aadhaar Centres in 15,000 Post Offices across India. The deadline set to complete this project is March 31st, 2018. This step is aimed at minimising frauds and corruption committed at private Aadhaar Enrolment and Update centres. This will also help in mitigating the risk of Aadhaar data breach. The government has also asked banks to open more than 15,000 Aadhaar centres in their branches. This step would not only ensure improved access for Aadhaar enrolment and update but also extend the reach of UID in remote areas.