Aadhaar card is a unique identification number, issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). According to a data shared by UIDAI in September 2023, 138.08 crore residents in India have Aadhaar Cards. Aadhaar Card can be used as a proof of Identity and to get benefits of many Centre and State Government welfare schemes. Let’s understand Aadhaar and its significance in detail.
Name Of Aadhaar Issuing Authority | Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) |
Aadhaar Customer Care Number | 1947 |
Inception of Aadhaar Card | September 2010 |
Validity Of Aadhaar Card | Lifetime |
Number Of Enrolment Centers | More than 30,000 |
Number Of Enrolments | 138 crore (approximate) |
Key people | Neelkanth Mishra, Chairman, UIDAI Amit Agrawal, CEO, UIDAI |
Any resident of India (newborns/minors) is eligible for an Aadhaar card. While the Aadhaar card is for adults, Baal Aadhaar is for children below five years. The eligibility for an Aadhaar card is :
An Non-Resident Indian (NRI), whether minor or adult, with a valid Indian Passport can apply for an Aadhaar card by visiting any Aadhaar Seva Kendra in India. However, it's essential for the NRI to have stayed in India for at least 182 days in the year preceding their application for the Aadhaar card.
Aadhaar enrolment is available even for minors and newborns. The identity and address proof of parents must be provided to apply for an Aadhaar card for children. However, they must update their biometric data twice, once when they turn 5 and again when they turn 15 years old. The Baal Aadhaar card for children below 5 years will be in blue colour.
Aadhaar requires three types of documents – Proof of Address (POA), Proof of Identity (POI) and Date of Birth (DOB). The following documents are sufficient to meet the criteria:
Proof of identification (POI) | Proof of address (POA) | Date of Birth (DOB) |
Pan card | Passport | Passport |
Passport | Ration/PDS card | Service photo ID card issued by Central or State Government |
Ration card | Voter ID card | Marksheet |
Voter ID card | Service photo ID card issued by Central or State Government | Birth certificate |
Driving license | Marriage certificate | |
Service photo ID card issued by Central or State Government | Bank account statement | |
Marksheet or school leaving certificate | Electricity, telephone, mobile or water bill not older than 3 months | |
Bank account statement | Property tax receipt, sale deed or rent agreement |
An Aadhaar card issued to a newborn/minor child is known as a ‘Baal Aadhaar’ card. It is blue in colour and does not include biometric information like fingerprints and iris scan of the cardholder, unlike the card for adults.
To check Aadhaar card status, visit the official UIDAI website, click ‘Check Aadhaar Status’ under the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab. Enter your enrolment number which is printed on the acknowledge slip to check the current status of your Aadhaar card.
If you have successfully enrolled for an Aadhaar card but have not received the physical copy as yet, then you can download and print the PDF version of Aadhaar card, also known as e-Aadhaar from the Aadhaar website. This is accepted everywhere. Go to the UIDAI website, and click ‘Download e-Aadhaar’ under the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab. Enter your Aadhaar number or enrolment number which is printed on the acknowledge slip to download your Aadhaar card.
It is now possible to easily verify Aadhaar online by the following steps:
If there is a mismatch in details, you can call UIDAI toll-free number – 1947 for rectification.
The two main reasons to update Aadhaar card details are:
You need a copy of the supporting document (POI/POA) to update details. The update can be done by visiting the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or logging on to the UIDAI website to update the Aadhaar online, depends on what information you want to update.
The government has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar with PAN card by 30th June 2023. However, it must be linked by paying a late penalty of Rs.1,000. After paying the penalty, individuals must visit the Income Tax e-filing portal, click the ‘Link Aadhaar’ option, enter the details and submit to link Aadhaar with PAN.
Aadhaar Virtual ID is the alternative to the Aadhaar number. This virtual ID is a temporary code consisting of a 16-digit number generated against an Aadhaar number. Remember that the virtual ID under no situation can be used to retrieve the original Aadhaar card. Only one virtual ID is generated against an Aadhaar number, and it can be generated as many times as the user wants.
The UIDAI introduced the latest form of Aadhaar, i.e. Aadhaar PVC card. Aadhaar cards can now be reprinted as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) cards. Aadhaar PVC is easy to carry and durable, with multiple security features. It has a digitally signed secure QR code with a photograph and demographic details. You can apply for the Aadhaar PVC card online by paying a nominal fee of Rs.50.
e-Aadhaar is the electronic form of Aadhaar, which is digitally signed by the UIDAI. It contains a QR code for offline verification, issue date and download date. Residents can easily download e-Aadhaar/masked e-Aadhaar from the UIDAI website using registered mobile number. The masked e-Aadhaar displays only last 4 digits of the Aadhaar number. e-Aadhaar is generated automatically with Aadhaar enrolment or update, and it can be downloaded free of cost.
UIDAI provides the following Aadhaar-related services: