The Unique Identification Authority of India gives each person who lives in India an Aadhaar card with a unique 12-digit number (UIDAI). Residents can get this number at one of the many governments approved Aadhaar Enrollment Centers or Aadhaar Seva Kendras by giving their biometric and demographic information (ASKs). Read the following article to learn everything you need to know about the Aadhaar Card.
What is an Aadhaar Card?
Every Indian citizen is required to have an Aadhar Card, which is an essential card. UIDAI is in charge of giving out Aadhar Cards. Indian citizens get random 12-digit Aadhaar numbers from the UIDAI (“Authority”) after they have passed the required verification steps. It is a number that is unique to each person and is kept in one place. Anyone in India can sign up on their own to get an Aadhaar number, no matter what age or gender they are. During the free enrollment process, the person who wants to sign up must give a small amount of demographic and biometric information.
What is Masked Aadhaar Card? How to Download it in 10 Minutes!
Because the de-duplication of demographic and biometric information makes each person unique, a person only needs to sign up for Aadhaar once. After de-duplication, only one Aadhaar will be made. The Aadhaar number isn’t smart and doesn’t make profiles of people based on their caste, religion, income, health, or location. The government keeps track of the information on this card in a database. This card is now the primary way the government helps its people get benefits and services.
What are the various types of Aadhar cards?
Aadhar Card for Indian Residents
Everyone who lives in India can get an Aadhaar card. Also, Indian taxpayers must now link their PAN with their Aadhaar number to file their annual Income Tax Return (ITR). This is a new requirement from the Indian government.
Aadhar Card for NRIs
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can get an Aadhaar card as long as they have a valid Indian passport. This includes both minors and adults.
Baal Aadhaar or the Aadhar Card for Minors
Aadhaar is different from the voter ID card because even minors can sign up for it. To get an Aadhaar card for a child, you need to show proof of who you are and where the parent lives. Newborn babies can also sign up for Aadhaar. But when they turn 5 or 15, they must update their biometric information. The Baal Aadhaar card for children under the age of five is blue.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for enrolling for an Aadhaar Card?
The UIDAI made Aadhaar so that Indian citizens would have a document that could be used as proof of their unique identity in many situations. More than just an ID number is involved. But anyone can get an Aadhaar card, not just people who live in India.
Here are the requirements to enrol in Aadhaar:
- The applicant must be an Indian citizen who lives in India.
- The applicant is not a citizen of India but lives in India.
Procedure For Change Address in Aadhar Card Online-Offline, Status-22
Aadhaar Card: List of Documents Required for Update/Correction
When you enrol for Aadhaar, you must show these documents as proof: Proof of Address (POA), Proof of Identity (POI), Proof of Relationship (POR), and Proof of Birth (DoB). Here are the most common ways to ask for an Aadhaar card:
- PAN cardKissan photo passbook
- ECHS/CGHS photo card
- Passport
- Ration card
- Address card containing name and picture issued by the Department of Posts
- NREGA job card
- Pensioners’ photo ID card
- Voter ID Card
- Photo ID cards issued by the Government
Proof of Age
As proof of age, you can use any of the following:
- State/central pension payment order
- Passport
- Certificate of date of birth and issued by group a gazetted officer on a letterhead
- Mark sheet issued by government university or board
- PAN card
- Birth certificate
- SSC certificate
Proof of Address
As proof of address, you can use any of the following:
- Gas connection bill (must not be older than three months)
- The signed letter that has a photo from the bank on a letterhead
- Government photo ID cards or PSU-issued service photo identity card
- Ration card
- Passport
- Vehicle registration certificate
- Address card with a photo issued by the Department of Posts
- Signed letter with photo and administered by a recognized educational institution on a letterhead
- Property tax receipt (must not be older than a year)
- Bank statement
- Passbook
Proof of Relationship
As proof of a relationship with the head of the family, you can use any of the following:
- Family entitlement document that is issued by central/state government
- Passport
- Job card of MNREGA
- PDS card
- Birth certificate issued by Registrar of Birth or municipal corporation or local government
You can download the form from the official website, https://uidai.gov.in, or submit the free Aadhaar card enrolment form in person at the nearest Aadhaar enrollment centre to get a new Aadhaar card or change information on an old one. To enrol in Aadhaar, you must send in the form and any other documents needed.
If you want to change the information on your Aadhaar card, you must pay Rs. 50 for the demographic update and Rs. 100 for the biometric update at an Aadhaar Enrollment Center.
What is the procedure to Apply for an Aadhaar Card?
Given how necessary and helpful Aadhaar is, the next question is how to get an Aadhaar card. To get an Aadhar card, you must follow a step-by-step process and a set of rules.
When signing up for Aadhaar, the applicant must give the necessary information, and an Aadhaar card is made once the data is confirmed. You can also check the status of your Aadhaar card online.
If you want to change the information on your Aadhaar card, you must pay Rs. 50 for the demographic update and Rs. 100 for the biometric update at an Aadhaar Enrollment Center.
What is the process to update your address on your aadhaar card without needing address verification?
*Until further notice, UIDAI has stopped giving this service for now.
If you don’t have legal proof of your address and you move or change homes after getting married, it can be hard to get things done. But you can now change the address on your Aadhaar card without any other paperwork, and you can use it as legal proof of who you are.
To do this, you can use the Aadhaar Address Validation Letter from the address verifier. The address of the person who verified you has also been added to your Aadhaar card. Aside from the address, no other information about the person who checks your Aadhaar is added. Any person willing to give you their address can be a verifier. This could be a family member, friend, acquaintance, or landlord.
How to check the Status of an Aadhar Card Update Online?
People can fix wrong information on their Aadhaar card both online and in person. But you can also check online to see where the update request is. Follow these simple steps to check online on the status of an Aadhaar card update:
- Under “Update Aadhaar,” click the link “Check Aadhaar Update Status.”
- Here is where you should put your Service Request Number, or SRN.
- The status of the update to Aadhaar will be posted online.
How to check the Aadhar Card Application Status Online?
Using the “Enrollment ID” on the Aadhaar Acknowledgement Slip, which has the 14-digit enrolment number (1234/12345/12345) and the 14-digit date and time of enrolment (yyyy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss), you can check the status of your Aadhaar Card application online.
Follow these simple steps to check online on your Aadhaar enrollment:
- Go to the UIDAI website and click “Get Aadhaar” and “Check Aadhaar Status.”
- Enter your enrollment number and security code.
- You will get information about your Aadhaar and its delivery status if it has already been made.
How to Download or Print an E-Aadhaar Card Online?
- The Aadhaar card status check says that when your Aadhaar number is made, it is sent to your home address. You can also get your Aadhaar online, where you can download it. You can get your Aadhar card in several different ways. They make use of the following:
- Aadhaar number
- Name and Birth Date
- Without Registered Mobile Number Enrollment Number (EID) Virtual ID DigiLocker Account Umang App
- You can print the downloadable e-Aadhaar card and use it as your official ID until your real Aadhaar comes in the mail. The e-Aadhar card can also be used everywhere.
PVC Aadhar Card
UIDAI has given the go-ahead for the Aadhaar Card to be reprinted as a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) card. You can apply for an Aadhaar PVC card online for a small fee of Rs. 50. Aadhaar PVC cards are a valid form of Aadhaar. They are much more durable and have a lot of security features.
How to link your Bank Account with your Aadhaar Card?
The Reserve Bank of India made it a requirement in 2017 that all bank accounts be linked to Aadhaar. But since the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision, you no longer have to link your Aadhaar to your bank account.
If you want to link your Aadhaar to your bank account, you can do so in one of the following ways:
- Link Aadhaar with Bank Account via Internet Banking
- Bank’s Mobile Application
- By Visiting the nearest bank branch
- ATM
- SMS Service
- Mobile Number
How to link a PAN Card to Aadhaar Card?
According to Section 133 AA (2) of the Income Tax Act, the Union Government of India has required people to link their PAN with their Aadhaar before filing an “Income Tax Return.” The deadline for linking a PAN to an Aadhaar card is currently March 31, 2023. But you will only have to pay Rs. 500 if you link your PAN to your Aadhar card before June 30, 2022. If you link your PAN to your Aadhar card between July 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, you will have to pay Rs.
Here are the different ways to link Aadhaar to PAN:
- Using the e-filing website, PAN can be linked to Aadhaar.
- Using SMS to link Aadhaar number and PAN
Using your Biometrics to lock or unlock a window
Aadhaar serves as proof of identity and address for people in India. This makes it one of the most important documents for getting services from the government. But UIDAI allows you to lock or unlock your Aadhaar biometric data online. This keeps your Aadhaar safe. Here are the ways you can lock and unlock your Aadhaar biometric information online:
- Lock/Unlock Aadhaar Biometric through UIDAI.
- Lock/Unlock Aadhaar Biometric via the mAdhaar app.
What are the Services For UIDAI Adhar Card
- On the UIDAI website, you can find a link to download an Aadhaar card.
- You can check the status of your Aadhaar card online to see if it was made after you signed up or not.
- If you want to update your information at an Aadhaar Enrollment/Update Center near you, you can easily find one on the UIDAI website.
- If you lose or forget your Aadhaar number or enrollment number, it is easy to get it back online.
- You can change your address online for free by going to the UIDAI portal.
- On the site, you can also check if a resident has an Aadhaar number.
- Residents can use the mAadhaar app and lock and unlock their biometrics on their Aadhaar cards online.
- An employee can check online to see how the link between Aadhaar and a bank account is going.
- By looking at the Aadhaar authentication history, you can keep track of every authentication request made in the last six months.
- With your Aadhaar number, you can make or get your Aadhaar Virtual ID to protect your Aadhaar and add an extra layer of security.
Benefits of an Aadhar Card
The Indian government gives every citizen an Aadhaar number, which can be used as a form of ID anywhere in the country. There are many benefits to having an Aadhaar card. Here are some of them:
Use as a Proof of Residence or Address
On the Aadhar card, the cardholder’s home address is written down. So, it can be used as proof of residence for several government and non-government procedures. Aadhaar is also accepted as legal proof of place of residence when applying for financial products like stock market investments, mutual funds, house loans, personal loans, credit cards, etc., and financial services like ITR filing.
Use as an Identity Card
Even though Aadhaar is not a citizenship card, it is a form of identification that all government and non-government organisations recognize. In addition to a picture of the cardholder, it has biometric information like fingerprint and iris scans. The Aadhaar card also has a QR code that can be scanned to check if the information is correct.
Get a Phone Connection
After Aadhaar became a way to prove who you are and where you live, almost all telecom companies now offer phone connections. After Aadhaar is sent, the link is turned on as soon as possible.
Get a Gas Connection
Information from Aadhaar is needed to get a new gas connection. If they want a subsidy for their current gas connection, they must fill out the KYC form and link their Aadhaar to their bank account. This will allow them to get the subsidy under the Pahal (DBTL) plan directly into their bank account.
Banking: Operate Bank Accounts
Aadhaar is now just as crucial as PAN when opening a bank account. To open a bank account, all banks need is the applicant’s PAN and Aadhaar card. Jan Dhan accounts also need to have an Aadhaar number. Your bank account does not have to be linked to your Aadhar card.
Pay Income Tax
The Income Tax Department now wants taxpayers to link their Aadhaar to their PAN. Aadhaar will now require filing income tax returns and paying taxes. Without it, the ITR application of the taxpayer cannot be processed. The deadline for connecting Aadhaar and PAN has been pushed back to March 31, 2023.
You would get Governmental Support.
The government has required people to link their bank accounts to their Aadhaar to get subsidies from different programs. People must give their Aadhaar number to get subsidies for programmes like Pahal, Atal Pension Yojna, Kerosene Subsidy, School Subsidy, Food Subsidies, and others directly into their bank accounts.
It helps in Investing in Mutual Funds.
As SEBI requires, you could use your Aadhar Card to do e-KYC for mutual fund investments. Even though the old e-KYC process is no longer used, it is easier to set up an investment account if you have an Aadhar card.
Note: e-KYC for mutual fund accounts can only be done up to Rs 50,000 per fund per year. To get around this restriction, the investor must do biometric verification in person.
How long can I use my Aadhaar card after I’ve downloaded it?
After it has been downloaded, the Aadhaar Card is good for the rest of your life.
What does Aadhaar authentication mean, and what are some of its benefits?
“Aadhaar authentication” ensures that demographic, biometric, and other information given to the CIDR for verification is correct. Validated Aadhaar has many benefits, such as making service delivery more efficient and transparent, verifying demographics and residency in the future, and establishing identity.
What is Masked Aadhaar Card?
Some people edit their downloaded e-Aadhaar documents to protect their privacy by replacing the first eight digits with characters like “XXXX-XXXX,” leaving only the last four digits visible.