Aadhaar is a 12 digit Unique Identification Number issued by the Government of India to the country’s residents. Aadhaar Number is issued to an individual based on their Demographic and Biometric data, which is stored by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), an authority established by the Government of India in January 2009. The UIDAI overs the provisions covered under the Aadhaar Act passed in March, 2016. It falls under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Today, Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric system with over 1.19 billion people enrolled under it.

 

Aadhaar is a residence proof and not a citizenship proof, which means that Aadhaar is not mandatory for you to live in the country. But, it is necessary to have it as it is now being linked to PPF Bank Accounts, Mobile Numbers and other welfare schemes. It can be compared to Social Security Number issued to residents of the US. However, Aadhaar has more uses and lesser safeguards.

 

Aadhaar’s validity as a mandatory document is currently under questioning in the Supreme Court for the following reasons. Under the right to privacy and security, no person should hand over their complete biodata and information to the government. As India is a country with a huge population, the chances of misplacement and misuse of information also increases. Moreover, a person not having Aadhaar Card cannot be denied the services provided by the government. For now, the five judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to bank accounts and mobile numbers.

 

Now, since it contains one’s biometric and demographic data, an important question arises here, which is, what about people having eye ailments or ill-defined demographics?

Well, they can enrol for Aadhaar as well, says the UIDAI. Also, aadhaar enrolment can also be done if the family members do not have individual valid documents.

 

Learn How to Check Aadhar Card Status

 

Aadhaar will not replace any existing documents as Identity Proof neither does it grant a person his/her citizenship and basic fundamental rights. Residents enrolled in the National Population Register need not have an Aadhaar Card. But, it is required for making a new PAN Card, opening a bank account and issuing a new SIM Card.

Another important question that arises in the minds of people is that whether NRIs and OCIs can issue an Aadhaar Card?

 

Yes, NRIs and OCIs can also apply for Aadhaar. But they have to be present in India while doing so. In case of NRIs, they need to be present for at least 182 days of a financial year to issue an Aadhaar Card. The procedure for NRIs, OCIs and Indian Residents for issuing an Aadhaar Card is the same.

 

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