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aadhaar card update

Aadhaar is now linked to almost every essential service. Many people are confused about whether it can serve as proof of date of birth or Indian citizenship. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has repeatedly clarified that the 12-digit Aadhaar number can be used only as proof of identity and not as proof of citizenship. Still, rumors continue to spread about what Aadhaar can and cannot be used for. To clear up this confusion, UIDAI has once again clarified that Aadhaar establishes the identity of a person, but it cannot be considered as proof of residence or citizenship.

Where can Aadhar card not be used?

A recent order issued by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications states that the Aadhaar number can be used to establish the identity of the Aadhaar holder, that too when authentication or offline verification is taking place. The order states that the Aadhaar number or its authentication is not proof of citizenship or residence for the Aadhaar holder. It is also not a proof of date of birth and "therefore, it should not be used to definitively establish the date of birth of an Aadhaar holder. The government has asked all post offices to circulate the latest clarification to all for information and necessary guidance. It may also be put up on the notice boards of all post offices located in the sub-sector area," the order said.

For which services has Aadhaar become mandatory?

Aadhaar has become an integral part of many financial and government services. Today many benefits and transactions are not possible without providing Aadhaar number. It is mandatory for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR), linking PAN, opening bank accounts and purchasing new mobile SIM cards. Aadhaar is also required for some investments like mutual funds and other investments requiring KYC verification. Aadhaar authentication is also required for most government subsidies and welfare schemes.

Use of Aadhaar in welfare schemes

Aadhaar is necessary to avail government subsidies and benefits under schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBTL) for LPG. It is also mandatory for pension schemes like Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). Apart from this, Aadhaar is required to avail many other services including scholarships, labor welfare benefits and getting a mobile connection or driving license.

Increase in charges for updating Aadhaar details

Meanwhile, the cost of updating details in Aadhaar has increased from October 1. The fee for demographic changes, such as name, address or date of birth, has been increased from Rs 50 to Rs 75. Similarly, the fee for biometric update has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 125. This is the first revision in Aadhaar update fee in almost 5 years. However, Aadhaar enrollment and updates will continue to be free for newborns. The revised charges will be applicable only on changes made after the issuance of Aadhaar number, including demographic and biometric updates. For children, biometric updates are mandatory at the age of 5, again between the ages of 5 and seven, and again between the ages of 15 and 17.