Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar Card is a 12-digit unique identification number which is assigned by the Unique Identification Authority of India to all the Indian Citizens. This number is obtained by the residents by providing the biometric and demographic details at the government authorized Aadhar Enrolment Centers.
Eligibility of Aadhar Enrollment
- The applicant must be the resident of India
- The applicant is a non-resident Indian residing in India
- Aadhar applicant is a foreigner residing in India
- Even newborns can enroll for a special type of Aadhaar known as Baal Aadhaar
Aadhar Card for Resident Indians
Every Indian Citizen can apply for Aadhaar Card and get the number. As per the government, the taxpayers must do PAN and Aadhaar linking at the time of filing Income Tax Return.
Aadhaar Card for Minors
Aadhaar enrollment is available for minors. When you apply for Aadhaar Card for minor child, you need to give birth certificate of minor child along with the proof of identity and address of parents under 5 years. Minor can only update their biometric data as soon as they turn 5 and 15-year-old. The Baal Aadhaar card for children below 5 years is blue.
Aadhaar for Foreigners
The foreigners who are residing in India are eligible for Aadhar even though they are citizen of another country. A foreigner can only have an Aadhaar card if anyone is residing in India for more than 182 days in the past 12 months.
Documents required for Aadhaar Card
Applicants need to submit two documents at the time of enrolment-
Proof of address and proof of identity. It is a must that document submitted should have the name and photograph of the individual which qualify them to act as an identity proof.
Here is the list of the documents required for Aadhaar card when you are applying for one:
- Passport of the applicant
- PAN card
- Ration card or PDS Photo Card.
- Voter Identification Card.
- Driving license
- NREGS Jobs Card
- Photo Bank ATM Card
- Voter identification card
- Certificate of birth of the applicant
How to get a form for applying fresh Aadhaar card?
You can download an form of applying fresh Aadhaar as well as for updating details in their Aadhar by visiting the following Aadhaar Card official website https://uidai.gov.in
This Aadhar card enrolment form is also available at all Aadhaar enrolment centres free of cost. Applicants must fill the form and submit it along with the supporting documents to initiate the process of Aadhaar enrolment. All charges, including the infrastructure, logistics and services, are borne by the government of India.
However, in case you want to update details in your Aadhaar card, a charge of Rs 25 is taken from the applicant.
What is the process to apply for Aadhaar Card?
Step by step process which needs to be followed to apply for an Aadhar Card.
Aadhaar Enrolment Centre
It is first step for any individual who wishes to apply for the Aadhaar card, needs to look out for the Aadhaar enrolment centre near by his or residence. One can locate the Aadhaar Seva Kendra online using the portal of UIDAI. At the time of visiting the Aadhaar Sewa Kendra, individual should have his or her identity proof.
Fill the form
Get a form from either from your Aadhar authorized center o which is free of cost or one can also download the form from online portal of Aadhaar card. After that, fill the form and submit it at the enrolment center for further processing.
Photograph and Biometric Data Collection:
After form submission takes place, photograph, fingerprint and iris scan of Aadhaar applicant takes place as a part of the enrollment procedure. It is utmost importance that individual double-checks all the provided details in the form and make any rectifications if an error is found.
Acknowledgement Slip– After enrolment, the applicant receives an acknowledgement slip that works till the time individual receives original Aadhaar card copy. The Aadhaar enrolment number is mentioned that can be used to check the status of Aadhaar card application online as well as through IVR.
Issue of Aadhaar Card
Before the issue of original Aadhaar Card, all data provided by the individual is verified through the Central Government agency UIDAI, and only after doing the proper verification, the Aadhar Card is issued to the individual.
Dispatch of Aadhaar to the Address of the applicant
After successful completion of Aadhaar verification process, the applicant initially receives an SMS or a notification through email. Then, in a few days’ time, the Aadhaar number gets printed on the Aadhar Card of the individual and is sent to their verified residing address through post.
Significance of Aadhaar Card
Work as an Identity Card
Aadhar Card works as an identity card which is accepted by all non-government and government organizations. It is not only photo identity but also contain biometric details like fingerprints and iris image. Aadhaar card also contains a QR code that can be scanned to verify whether the details mentioned in the card are correct or not.
Proof of Residence
Aadhar card contains the residential address of the card holder. It can thus be used as a proof of residence for various governmental as well as non-governmental verification processes. Aadhaar is also considered a valid proof of residence when applying for various financial products like share market investments, mutual funds, home loan, personal loan, credit card, etc. as well as for availing financial services such as filing ITR.
Government Subsidy
The government has made it compulsory for people to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar to avail subsidies under different schemes. To get the subsidy directly in the bank account for schemes such as Pahal, Atal Pension Yojana, Kerosene subsidy, school subsidy, food subsidies and others, people needs to mandatorily furnish their Aadhaar.
Bank Accounts
Aadhaar has become a key document along with PAN for opening bank account these days. These days banks need only Aadhaar card and PAN to open a bank account for the applicant. Jan Dhan accounts also need Aadhaar of the applicant. This holds true even after the Supreme Court judgement on Aadhaar that has partially impacted its usage as a KYC document.
Income Tax
The Income Tax Department has made it mandatory for all the taxpayers to link Aadhaar to PAN. Aadhar Card details are required while paying income tax and filing returns otherwise the ITR application of the taxpayer would not be processed.
Phone Connection
Almost all telecom companies provide phone connections after accepting Aadhaar as a proof of identity/address. Once Aadhaar is provided, the connection gets activated in least possible time. Also, existing customers can link their mobile numbers with their Aadhaar for re-verification even though such re-KYC can be completed using other address proof as well.
Gas Connection
People must provide their Aadhaar for getting a new gas connection. In case they want to avail subsidy on their present gas connection, they will have to fill the KYC form and link Aadhar with their bank account to get subsidy directly in their account under the Pahal (DBTL) scheme.
Mutual Fund
Aadhaar Card helps in doing easy completition of e-KYC for mutual fund investments as mandated by SEBI. Even though the earlier e-KYC process is no longer operational, the investment account opening process is simplified in case you have your Aadhaar card.
