Established in 2016, the Aadhaar program was introduced by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Aadhaar card is distributed by the UIDAI in India which collects the cardholder’s biometric and demographic information. These data are then used to allocate government schemes and government subsidy programs in a transparent and streamlined manner. My Aadhaar is not just identification and address proof, but it is also used to file income tax returns, open bank accounts, get life insurance and more. Let’s learn the complete details of the Aadhaar Card and its need in an Indian citizen’s life.

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Overview

Let us look at the basic information about the Aadhaar card, its key features, customer number, and more.

Chairman and CEO	Neelkanth Mishra (Chairman) and Sh Amit Agarwal, IAS (CEO)
Aadhaar Customer Care Number	1947
Inception of Aadhaar Card	September 2010
Aadhaar Card Validity	Lifetime
Enrollment Centers In India	30,000+
Number of Enrolments	138 crore+

What Is The Purpose Of An Aadhaar Card?

My Aadhaar serves various purposes, from applying to a government scheme to filing an ITR Return. Here we are going to list some of the most crucial objectives of the Aadhaar Card.

• Aadhaar acts as a universally accepted identity proof. It is a 12-digit unique number assigned to every eligible Indian citizen.

• Through the help of Aadhaar, eligible citizens can enjoy the benefits of suitable government schemes and subsidies. It also helps in minimising fraud.

• To open a bank account or to access financial services and assistance, Aadhaar helps majorly.

• Income Tax Returns can only be filed with a valid Aadhaar and PAN Card, without any a taxpayer cannot pay tax or get return benefits.

• Aadhaar enables digital verification for services such as mobile connections, online banking, and accessing government services.

• Aadhaar also helps in obtaining the correct data and stats related to the Indian population and their demography, which ultimately supports various data-driven policies.

Read More: Connect SIM with Aadhaar

What Is The Information Mentioned In Aadhaar Card?

Being one of the major documents in India, and serving various purposes, it is important to understand what kind of information is stored and added in Aadhaar, making it so important for government schemes, financial purposes and many others.

Demographic Information	Name, DOB/Age, Address, EID (Enrolment Number), Barcode
Biometric Information	Photograph, Iris Scan For Both Eyes, Fingerprints

Eligibility Criteria For An Aadhaar Card

To have an Aadhaar Card one needs to be eligible for it. Let us have a look at all the eligibility criteria required to be fulfilled to apply for an Aadhaar Card.

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen living in India.

• Applicants can be an NRI living abroad.

• The applicant must have an OCI cardholder with a valid foreign passport and a minimum of 182 days of stay in India in the past 12 months.

• The applicant is a national of Nepal or Bhutan.

• Other resident foreigners who have resided in India for more than 182 days in the last year.

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Aadhaar For Indians

Indians who are living in India can apply for an aadhaar card.

Aadhaar For Minors (Baal Aadhaar)

Minor citizens of India even newborn or kindergarten children can apply for Baal Aadhaar in India. For this, the details of both parents are required to be added for identity and address proof. Keep in mind that for newborn babies applying for Aadhaar, their biometric information will be updated once they turn 5 years old.

Aadhaar Card For NRIs

Non-Resident Indians can also apply for “my aadhaar”, but note that to have an Aadhaar card, NRIs must have a valid Indian passport.

Documents Required To Apply For An Aadhaar Card

There are some documents required to be submitted to apply for an aadhaar card. From residential proof to age proof, let’s check the list of documents that are mandatory to apply for the aadhaar and government verification.

Documents Required For Identity Proof

Listed below are the documents that can be used as proof of identity for applying for an aadhaar card.

• Passport

• NREGA job card

• Kissan photo passbook

• Pensioner’s photo ID Card

• Ration Card

• ECHS/CGHS card

• Voter ID Card

• PAN card

Documents For Proof Of Address

Listed below are the documents that can be used as proof of address for applying for an aadhaar card.

• Bank Statement

• Government Photo ID Card Or PSU Issued Service Card

• Department Of Posts Issued Address Card With Photos

• Property Tax Receipt (Not Older Than One Year)

• Gas Connection Bill (Not Older Than 3 Months)

• Passbook

• Vehicle Registration

• Ration Card

• Passport

Documents For Proof Of Age

Listed below are the documents that can be used as proof of age for applying for aadhaar card.

• PAN Card

• Passport

• Mark sheet issued by government accredited university or school

• SSC certificate

• State Or Central PPO

• Birth Certificate

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How To Enrol For An Aadhaar Card?

You can apply for an Aadhaar at any authorised Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Permanent Enrolment Centre. For a current list of these centres, visit the UIDAI website.

To make the enrolment process more accessible, over 10,000 post offices and bank branches have been authorised by the UIDAI to serve as Permanent Enrolment Centres.

To complete the enrolment process, applicants should follow these steps:

• Step 1: Go to the official UIDAI website to locate an enrolment centre.

• Step 2: Fill out the form with the necessary details.

• Step 3: Submit the required documents.

• Step 4: Provide biometric information, including fingerprints and an iris scan.

• Step 5: Collect the acknowledgement slip after submission.

• Step 6: Your Aadhaar card will be mailed to your registered address.

Steps to Enrol for Baal Aadhaar:

• Step 1: Use the UIDAI website to find the nearest enrolment centre.

• Step 2: Bring a copy of the child's birth certificate to the centre.

• Step 3: Provide the Aadhaar number of one parent, which is mandatory for authentication. The child's Aadhaar will be linked to the parent's Aadhaar.

• Step 4: Complete the application form with the child’s details and the mobile number you wish to register.

• Step 5: A photograph of the child will be taken, but no biometric data is required if the child is under five years old.

• Step 6: After completing the process, collect the acknowledgement slip.

• Step 7: The Baal Aadhaar card will be sent to the specified address. You'll receive an SMS for verification on the mobile number provided in the application.

How To Update An Aadhaar Card?

If you need to do any Aadhaar Card update, including address change or another form of correction then it can be done via two methods: Enrollment centre or Online.

• Demographic data that can be changed in an Aadhaar Card are Name, Age, Date Of Birth, Mobile Number, Address, and Photo.

• Biometric data that can be changed are Iris and Fingerprints.

While the applicant can make an aadhaar card address change through online mode, another demographic along with biometric data change has to be done by visiting the enrolment centre only.

Read More: Aadhar And PAN after Death

Can You Apply For an Aadhaar Card Without Document?

In case you do not have any supporting documents to apply for my aadhaar, as per the UIDAI’s Aadhaar enrolment form, there are two you can still apply for an aadhaar card.

These two ways are mentioned below:

• Enrol under the Head of Family (HoF) based application. If the head of the family with a valid aadhaar card submits documents proving his/her relationship to the applicant, then the enrolment application will be processed after successful verification of the details.

• If an applicant does not have valid proof of identity or address documents, they can still complete the enrolment process with the help of an Introducer assigned by a Registrar. The Introducer can be reached by visiting an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre.

How To Check Aadhaar Card Application Status?

Mentioned below are the steps to check my aadhaar status. Follow the guide to know about the status and details of your aadhaar card.

• Step 1: Visit the UIDAI official website.

• Step 2: Log in using your ID and password.

• Step 3: Find Check Aadhaar status under the My aadhaar section.

• Step 4: Enter your enrollment number and enrollment time.

• Step 5: Enter the captcha for verification and click on “Check Status”.

How To Download An Aadhaar Card Online?

To make Aadhaar more convenient for citizens, the UIDAI came up with electronic storage of Aadhaar details for easy retrieval in times of need. This is what we call e-Aadhaar, which is available in a PDF format and can easily be downloaded from the official website.

The electronic aadhaar or my aadhaar download can be accessed using any of the below-mentioned details.

• Using Aadhaar Number.

• Using Virtual ID (VID).

• Using Enrollment ID.

Now that we have understood the details required to access UIDAI download aadhaar card, let us see the steps to download an Aadhaar card online.

• Visit the official website of UIDAI and click on the Download Aadhaar option.

• Select any of the above-mentioned options and enter the number.

• Enter the captcha provided and click on ‘Send OTP’.

• After entering the OTP, you will also be given an option to download ‘Masked Aadhaar’ if that is what you need.

• Click on Verify and Download.

How To Do Aadhaar Verification?

For Aadhaar Verification some simple steps are needed to be followed. Please read through the guide carefully to verify your aadhaar card without any hassle.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UIDAI.

• Step 2: Go to the ‘My Aadhaar’ section.

• Step 3: Click on “Verify an aadhaar Number”. This option can be found under the Aadhaar Services section.

• Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number and captcha.

• Step 5: Click on ‘proceed and verify.’

• Step 6: Complete all the steps on the next page to verify an aadhaar card.

Step By Step Guide To Link Aadhaar With PAN

Now it is mandatory to link the Aadhaar card with the PAN card as per the GOI rule. This important step was taken following Section 133 AA(2) of the Income Tax Act. This means that any Indian citizen filling out an ITR needs to have his/her Aadhaar linked with a PAN card.

There are two ways to link an aadhaar with a PAN card:

• Link them through an e-filling website.

• Linking Aadhaar number and PAN via SMS.

Let us follow the seven easy steps for PAN Aadhaar link:

• Step 1: Open The Income Tax E-Filing Portal.

• Step 2: Register On It. Your PAN (Permanent Account Number) Will Be Your User ID.

• Step 3: Login On The Page Using Your User ID, Password, And Date Of Birth.

• Step 4: When You Log in, A Window Will Pop Up Asking You To Link Your PAN with an Aadhaar.

• Step 5: If The Window Does Not Pop Up, Then Go To Your Profile Settings And Click On Link Aadhaar.

• Step 6: You Will Have To Enter Your Aadhaar Number And Type The Captcha Code.

• Step 7: Click On Link Now.

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Steps To Link Aadhaar With Bank Account

As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directive, it is important to link all bank accounts with Aadhaar to avail the benefits of various government schemes, subsidy schemes, and many other initiatives and policies.

If you wish to avail such benefits, you can Aadhaar link bank status through these ways.

• Link Aadhaar with a bank account using the Internet banking option.

• One can also use the given bank’s mobile application.

• One can also link aadhaar with the bank by visiting their bank branch.

• You can also link an aadhaar with the bank account using the particular bank SMS service but we advise you always to be cautious using such services over SMS and call to avoid fraud.

Also read: Link Mobile and Aadhaar

Aadhaar Biometric Information

Aadhaar card is an essential proof of identity in India. The Aadhaar latest update however halts the use of Aadhaar card as birth proof as per the latest regulations issues. It is important to have an aadhaar card to avail of many government services and schemes. And on that note, UIDAI offers an option to lock and unlock aadhaar card biometric data online.

Steps To Lock Aadhaar Biometric Data Online

Given below is the step-by-step guide to lock your biometric aadhaar card data online.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UIDAI and locate ‘My Aadhaar’ and ‘Aadhaar Services’, click on “Aadhaar Lock and Unlock Service”.

• Step 2: Select the option of ‘Lock UID’.

• Step 3: Enter the 12-digit unique Aadhaar number from your card.

• Step 4: Enter your full name and pin code.

• Step 5: Enter the captcha shown on the page.

• Step 6: Click on ‘send OTP’ and enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number.

• Step 7: Verify the OTP and once done a notification will pop up stating ‘Your Aadhaar number is successfully locked’ on the screen.

Steps To Unlock Aadhaar Card Biometric Data Online

Given below is the step-by-step guide to Unlock your biometric aadhaar card data online.

• Step 1: Go to the official UIDAI website, navigate to the 'My Aadhaar' section, and select 'Aadhaar Lock and Unlock Service' under 'Aadhaar Services.'

• Step 2: Input your 12-digit Aadhaar number or the 16-digit Virtual ID number. (scroll down to check how to generate a Virtual ID)

• Step 3: Fill in the Captcha code for verification.

• Step 4: Click on the option to receive an OTP.

• Step 5: Enter the OTP you receive and click 'Submit'.

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What Are The Benefits Of An Aadhaar Card?

Today every Indian citizen be it old or new born have their Aadhaar card. This universal identity proof is a base of availing many benefits. Below mentioned are some of the most prominent aadhaar card benefits that one must know of.

• Identity Proof: Aadhaar is a widely accepted identity document used by both government and private organisations. Although it is not proof of citizenship, it contains essential details like the holder's photograph and biometric data, such as fingerprints and iris scans. Additionally, a QR code is embedded for quick verification of the information on the card.

• Address Proof: The Aadhaar card displays the cardholder’s residential address, making it a reliable document for address verification across various platforms. It serves as a valid proof of residence when applying for financial services such as home loans, personal loans, credit cards, stock market investments, and mutual funds, and when filing income tax returns.

• Avail Government Subsidy Schemes: To access benefits from various government schemes, individuals need to link their bank accounts with their Aadhaar. This ensures subsidy programs like those for Pahal, Atal Pension Yojana, kerosene, education, and food programs are directly credited to the linked bank account.

• To Open Bank Account: Aadhaar has become a crucial document, often paired with the PAN (Permanent Account Number), for opening bank accounts. Several banks now accept just the Aadhaar card and PAN for this process. However, linking your Aadhaar to a bank account is not mandatory as per the Supreme Court ruling, but not doing so will also impact availing many other benefits.

• For Filling Income Tax: The Income Tax Department requires Aadhaar to be linked with the PAN for compliance. Aadhaar is necessary for paying taxes and filing income tax returns; otherwise, the return will not be processed.

• To Get A New Mobile Connection: Most telecom providers accept Aadhaar as valid proof of both identity and address. Using Aadhaar during the application process speeds up the activation of mobile services.

• Gas Connections: To avail the benefits of schemes, such as Ujjwala Yojana, linking LPG and Aadhaar has become an essential aspect. For existing connections, completing KYC and linking Aadhaar to the bank account enables users to receive subsidies directly into their bank account.

Also read: Aadhar Card Loan

What Is E-Aadhaar?

e-Aadhaar also known as electronic aadhaar is a digital counterpart of a physical aadhaar card generated by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This electronic document also has all the same information like Name, Photograph, Aadhaar card number, address and more. E-aadhaar is legally equivalent to a physical aadhaar card. And since this card is easier to carry on phones, due to its portability and convenience, e-aadhaar is very beneficial.

What Is Baal Aadhaar?

A Child’s Aadhaar card sometimes referred to as “Baal Aadhaar” or “Blue Aadhaar” is a unique identification of a 12-digit number given by the Unique Identification Authority of India.

It is not only considered the legal identification document for children up to 12 years, including newborn babies, but also it is an important document that is used for various purposes in the lives of children such as: in school admissions and health care as well as in accessing most governmental services.

To learn about the Baal Aadhaar card, its application process, documents required, and more read the Jaagruk Bharat complete guide on Baal Aadhaar.

What Is Aadhaar Virtual ID & Steps To Generate Aadhaar Virtual ID?

A temporary code consisting of a 16 digit number which is an alternative to the physical Aadhaar card number and generated against an aadhaar card is called an Aadhaar Virtual ID. This virtual ID cannot be used to retrieve your original card and the applicant can only generate one virtual ID against an aadhaar number.

Here is the step-by-step guide to generating an Aadhaar Virtual ID.

• Step 1: On the official website of UIDAI click on ‘Virtual ID Generator’. The option can be found under ‘My Aadhaar’ and ‘Aadhaar Services’.

• Step 2: Enter the 12-digit aadhaar card number.

• Step 3: Enter the right captcha and click on ‘Send OTP’.

• Step 4: Enter OTP and click on submit.

After that, you will get your 16-digit Aadhaar VID number on your registered mobile number.

Note: VID can not be used for a process like e-KYC.

What Is A Masked Aadhaar Card?

A masked Aadhaar is the same as a physical Aadhaar card with a small change. The 8 digits of the aadhaar number are hidden, only the last 4 digits are shown to maintain privacy.

Below mentioned are the steps to download the masked aadhaar card. Read through the guide to generate your m-aadhaar card.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UIDAI.

• Step 2: Log in using your Aadhaar card number and enter the captcha code.

• Step 3: Generate OTP and enter the OTP sent on the registered mobile number.

• Step 4: Click on the ‘Download Aadhaar’ option.

• Step 5: Here you will be asked if you like to download a masked Aadhaar, enter yes, and submit.

Places where masked Aadhaar is used are mentioned below.

Online Verification	For online verification, use a masked aadhaar card to save yourself from any fraud or data theft.
KYC process	During the KYC verification process, show a masked aadhaar card to verify details without revealing your aadhaar number entirely.
Authentication	Masked Aadhaar works as a legal identity proof, so if you want to show an aadhaar card for authentication purposes, use a m-aadhaar.
Digital Platform	Use it on online platforms like e-commerce websites or mobile applications.
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What Is The Need Of Aadhaar Authentication?

To allow cardholders to access services and benefits from a service provider, an individual's Aadhaar details must be submitted to the UIDAI for verification, a process known as Aadhaar Authentication. For many service providers, Aadhaar serves as a key eKYC document, helping users access benefits while enabling the government to verify their identity.

Here are some reasons why Aadhaar is preferred for eKYC:

• Aadhaar speeds up the process compared to physical documents, as the information is shared with the service provider through a secure channel in minutes, cutting down long wait times.

• Aadhaar is highly secure, as UIDAI shares only tamper-proof digital documents that cannot be forged or used without the consent of both the service provider and the Aadhaar holder.

• After receiving explicit consent from the Aadhaar holder, either through OTP acknowledgement or biometric verification, UIDAI shares only the necessary information with the service provider.

• The information shared by UIDAI is legally valid and accepted by all parties involved in the transaction, as it contains authenticated data.

• Aadhaar-based authentication is cost-effective, as the process is entirely paperless, eliminating the need for physical document movement due to its online procedures.

This combination of speed, security, and legality makes Aadhaar a preferred method for eKYC.

What Is The mAadhaar App?

The mAadhaar app is the official Aadhaar application launched by UIDAI, designed to allow Aadhaar card holders to carry their demographic data and photograph conveniently on their smartphones. Users can add their Aadhaar profile to the app and access it anytime, anywhere. The app allows up to five Aadhaar profiles to be created on a single device. To ensure data security, the app is protected by a password that must be entered each time it is opened. This feature ensures that only the user can access their Aadhaar information stored within the app.

The mAadhaar app is available for both Android and iOS users.

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Conclusion

An aadhaar card is a mandatory document that is needed not for identification proof but to avail of many government benefits. The card has now become the need and a go-to document for Indian citizens.

To learn more about such documents and to share your thoughts and knowledge on many such topics visit our Jaagruk Bharat community page today.

Important Links

Official Website: https://uidai.gov.in/en/

Contact Information: https://uidai.gov.in/en/contact-support.html