Aadhaar the world’s biggest biometric database was launched in India in 2009 to streamline welfare payments, reduce wastage in public spending and to make financial transactions more easy and comfortable for the people.
Aadhar is the new identity card for the citizens of India. It contains 12 digits unique identity number (UID). Earlier it was being said that Aadhar has been made compulsory and it is essential for all financial as well as some non-financial tasks. But SC never said its mandatory to link Aadhar to each and every bank account whether it be a savings account or a salary account, PPF accounts, NSC (National Savings Certificate), post office account or Kissan Vikash Patra etc. and now SC has infinitely extended the Aadhar linking deadline.
An Aadhaar Card Sample shows the details it contains about an individual.
However, there are many facts about Aadhar which makes it unique. Unlike other identity cards such as voter ID cards and PAN cards, there is no age limit to have an Aadhar card. The most important point with Aadhar cards is: it contains your biometric data i.e. your thumb impression and retina identity. These features have made Aadhar much efficient than other identity cards as no fraud and forgeries can be done with it.
Facts to Know about Aadhar
- Each and every citizen of the country can be enrolled to Aadhar including the infants. But you have to get the Aadhar updated of your child when he/she turns 5 with the fingerprints and retina scan.
- One can be enrolled to Aadhar even if they don’t have valid documents, but it is necessary that they have someone in the family to have the valid documents.
- The Aadhaar card holders can also download the digital copy of the biometrics-based identity card. But it is important to ensure that you delete the local copy of your Aadhaar card downloaded on any public machine to avoid from being misused.
- UIDAI has provided some tools on the portal uidai.gov.in for the public. These online tools enable people to enroll for Aadhaar card, update Aadhaar card, download a digital copy of Aadhaar card and to get Aadhaar number on the registered mobile number. There is one important facility provided which is- Aadhaar holders can lock/unlock their biometrics-related information associated with the Aadhaar card.
Supreme Court’s indefinite extension to link Aadhar Card with all the bank accounts and even with the phone number you use is a relief to people who have not done it yet and to those who don’t want to. Earlier the last date to link Aadhar was 31st March 2018 but now the deadline has been extended by the Supreme Court and there is no fixed deadline. This decision is taken by SC after being doubtful of privacy and data security issues. Although it is not mandatory linking Aadhar to your bank account and mobile number can make your financial life easier.
Aadhar can make e-verifying Income Tax Returns simpler.
There are many ways to verify your income tax return (ITR). But e-verification through your Aadhaar number is a convenient way which can be done online. Linking your Aadhaar with your PAN is a prerequisite, without which you can’t proceed for ITR verification. 30th June 2018 is the current deadline for this. ITR verification becomes simpler if your mobile number is registered with UIDAI.
e-KYC with Aadhar
It is a fact that e-KYC can be done with a number of documents. As we all know KYC stands for “Know Your Customer” and hence all the documents containing your details such as your name, address, nationality, the photo is valid for this. Such documents are Voter ID cards, PAN Cards, Driving License, Passport etc. But providing your Aadhar card for e- KYC makes the process much simpler. When you provide Aadhar Card for e-KYC you don’t need to give any other documents. One more benefit of e-KYC with Aadhar is that if you do it with other documents IPV i.e. in-person verification is done but with Aadhar, it is much simpler, an OTP will be sent to the registered number and that’s it.
Get Provident Fund Money on Time
Aadhaar Card is also beneficial for the senior citizens. There are a number of documentation process for the pensioners to start their pension after retirement, this documentation process is cumbersome and time-consuming too. But, registering the Aadhar card in the Bank account and EPF account can make it much simple.
However, to get the benefits from your Aadhaar card, registering your mobile phone number with the UIDAI database is a must. This is not mandatory yet but doing so can make your life a bit easier.
Registering mobile number and bank account gives you hassle-free access to various online services.
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