Aadhaar: What does Aadhaar verify and what does it not, where is it accepted and where is it not..

People are often confused about the Aadhaar card as to what it is proof of and what it is not. Where it can be used and where it cannot. Aadhaar is such a document that has become necessary for every citizen of India, but the government does not accept its use everywhere. It can be used as a document for certain purposes.

We will tell you what things the Aadhaar card verifies and what things it does not. For which purposes is it accepted, and where is it not? Aadhaar is not only an identity document but is also one of the biggest digital identity projects in the administrative structure of India.

On 28 January 2009, the then UPA government formed Unique Identification Authority of India, i.e., UIDAI. Its responsibility was given to Nandan Nilekani. The idea of a unique digital identity number was given to the government by Nandan Nilekani and his team. He designed it with digital KYC, biometrics, and online verification.

Who gave the name 'Aadhaar'

To whom was Aadhaar issued first

On 29 September 2010, the first Aadhaar number was issued to a woman named Ranjana Sonawane in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. So far, more than 140 crore Aadhaar numbers have been issued in the country, which means it covers almost the entire population of India.

What was Aadhaar created for

When the government started Aadhaar, there were many big objectives behind it.

- To give a unique digital identity to all Indian residents, so that no person is deprived of government services due to a lack of their identity document.

- To stop fake beneficiaries in government schemes.

- Sending subsidies, scholarships, pensions, and gas subsidies directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). This will curb middlemen and corruption.

- To prepare modern and accurate demographic data, so that the government can make schemes based on correct data.

Aadhaar has become a strong digital identity platform, but it needs to be strengthened further to meet the test of data security and constitutional rights.

What does Aadhaar verify?

Aadhaar card authenticates only two things.

- Identity of the person – i.e., your name, photo, and your biometrics (fingerprints, eye scan).

- Your residence, which you gave to UIDAI along with the document at that time.

It simply tells that this person is registered in UIDAI records with this name and address. It can be matched with his biometrics.

What does Aadhaar not verify?

1. Citizenship – Aadhaar does not certify any person as an Indian citizen. That is, if you have Aadhaar, it does not mean that you are a citizen of India.

2. Income – Proof of date of birth – The date of birth given in Aadhaar is declared or verified, but it is not a final and valid proof of date of birth like a birth certificate or 10th mark sheet.

3. Similarly, it is neither a proof of caste nor a proof of religion. It is also not a document to tell the marital status.

In which cases does the government accept Aadhaar

1. As identity proof

– In opening a bank account

– In getting a SIM card

– In getting a passport (supporting document)

– In identification and verification for pension, scholarship, ration card, gas subsidy, etc.

– Covid vaccine registration

– In linking with PAN

2. As address proof

– In banking, government schemes, SIM card, school admission, etc.

In which cases does the government not accept Aadhaar

1. As citizenship proof, it is not considered necessary as proof of citizenship for getting a passport.

– Aadhaar is not automatically proof of citizenship in the NRC or any citizenship registration.

2. Legal proof of date of birth – In court, government job or pension, only a birth certificate or 10th mark sheet is valid as proof of date of birth.

3. Income proof – A separate income certificate is required for government subsidy or scholarship. Your income is not linked to Aadhaar.
4. Caste proof – A separate caste certificate is required for a job or admission in the SC/ST/OBC quota. Caste is not written in Aadhaar.
UIDAI itself says that Aadhaar is only a proof of identity and address; it does not prove citizenship. The Supreme Court had also said in its 2018 decision that Aadhaar is only a document of identity, not citizenship.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News 18 hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.