Aadhaar Card

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is a valid proof of identity that helps you avail government services & its subsidies in India. Aadhaar’s identification and verification processes have become easier, ensuring efficient service delivery and promoting financial inclusion.

Aadhaar is assigned to all residents of India. Besides that, non-resident Indians, OCI cardholders, Nepal/Bhutan nationals, resident foreign nationals and LTV holders can also get Aadhaar.

Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or date of birth and is only a unique number to facilitate identification & verification of individuals. Read on to know all about Aadhaar Card.

UIDAI Aadhaar Latest Updates

According to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), individuals who haven't updated their Aadhaar in the last 10 years must update their Aadhaar details.

Details on Aadhaar Card

The Aadhaar Card consists of demographics, biometrics, & other personal details. The details mentioned on the Aadhaar Card can be categorised as follow:

Demographic Information

• Name
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• Address
• Email

Biometrics Data

• Photo
• Iris Scan
• Fingerprint

Aadhaar Eligibility

As per the Aadhaar Act of 2016, every Indian citizen is eligibile to obtain an Aadhar Card. Residents need to enroll themselves to Aadhaar at their nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centre/Kendra. It only requires biometric and demographic information of an individual for minimal documentation.

Note that children above age 5 will be eligible for Aadhaar. Whereas, for children below age 5 will be issued a Baal Aadhaar.

Eligibility for NRI Aadhaar Card

Besides, Indian nationals, foreign nationals can also enroll for Aadhaar. The requirements are as follows:

• NRI (Minor or Adult) with a valid passport.
• OCI cardholders
• LTV document holders
• Nepal & Bhutan nationals
• Other Resident Foreigner (staying in India for over 182 days)

Aadhaar Enrolment requires biometric and demographic information of an individual for minimal documentation. To apply for Aadhaar card, a foreign national must be in India for 182 days or more before the date of application. However, this rule is not applicable for NRIs.

Apply For Aadhaar Card

All eligible individuals can apply for Aadhaar by visiting the Aadhaar Enrolment Centers or Aadhaar Seva Kendra. One can book an online appointment and visit the nearest aadhaar centre to apply for a Aadhaar.

• Step 1: Visit UIDAI myAadhaar website - myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
• Step 2: Scroll down & click on ‘Book an Appointment’.
• Step 3: Select the Aadhaar Center. Enter your mobile number and verify OTP.
• Step 4: Enter your personal details, choose your slot and confirm your appointment.
• Step 5: Now visit the Aadhaar Center as per schedule with the required documents.
• Step 6: Fill out the Aadhaar Enrollment Form with all the required details and provide the required original documents for verification.
• Step 7: Photo, Iris Scan & Fingerprints will be captured by the official executive at the Aadhaar centre.
• Step 8: After successful submission of your enrollment request, an acknowledgement will be issued for future reference.

Documents Required for Aadhaar Card

The documents required for Aadhaar enrollment can be divided into the following categories:

1. Proof of Identity (POI)
2. Proof of Address (POA)
3. Proof of Date of Birth (PDB)
4. Proof of Relationship (POR)

Note that, POR is only needed for Aadhaar enrolment of minors or children.

Document Required as Proof of Identity(POI)

To verify your identity, you have to submit the following documents:

• Passport
• PAN Card/e-PAN
• Ration Card/PDS Photo Card
• Voter ID card
• Service photo ID cards issued by PSUs
• Job card of MNREGS
• Photo Passbook of Kisan
• Photo card of CGHS/ECHS

Proof of Address (POA)

The documents given below provide proof of address while filling up your application:

• Passport
• Passport of Spouse/Parents(minor)
• Bank statement (stamped and signed by the bank officials)/Passbook/ Post Office Account Statement/ Passbook
• Ration card/PDS Card
• Uitility Bill (electricity, water, phone) not older than 3 months
• Driving License

Proof of Date of Birth (PDB):

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• School Leaving Certificate (only for children above 5 years)
• Anganwadi Card (for children aged 1-5 years)

Proof of Relationship (POR) (For Minor Only)

As a proof of relationship, following documents are accepted:

• Passport of Spouse/ Parents
• Ration Card/PDS Card

Types of Aadhaar Card

Aadhaar is can be categoriesed in to the following major types:

1. Regular Aadhaar
2. Baal Aadhaar
3. Udyog Aadhaar

Regular Aadhaar

• Aadhaar for Indian Residents: Indian residents can get themselves enrolled and get their Aadhar Card. For future reference, residents can download their digital aadhaar as PDF or a Masked Aadhaar for enhanced privacy.
• Aadhaar for NRIs or Resident Foreigners: NRI (Minor or Adult) with a valid passport, OCI cardholders, LTV document holders, Nepal & Bhutan nationals and other resident foreigners (staying in India for over 182 days) can apply for a NRI Aadhaar Card in India.

Baal Aadhaar

Baal Aadhaar is issued for children of age below 5 years. It consists of personal & demographic details of the child. The biometric details need to be updated after the child reaches the age of 5 years.

Udyog Aadhaar

Udyog Aadhaar is a unique identification number issued by the Government of India to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It simplifies the registration process for MSMEs, enabling them to avail of various benefits such as subsidies, business loans, and other government schemes, fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Link Mobile Number to Aadhaar

Linking Mobile Number with Adhaar is essential to accessing the Aadhaar OTP verification or e-KYC.

A mobile number will be connected to your Aadhaar when you apply for a new aadhar card. To Change the registered mobile number, you need to visit the Aadhaar Seva Kendra & update your Aadhaar Mobile number.

Step 1: Visit the UIDAI official website & book an online appointment to visit the Aadhaar Seva Kendra.

Step 2: Report to the Aadhaar Centre (Aahaar Seva Kendra) as per the scheduled date & time with the original documents, including the existing Aadhaar card.

Step 3: Provide the basic details and verify OTP to update your phone number on Aahdaar.

Step 4: Collect the acknowledgement for future reference.

Link PAN Card with Aadhaar

You can visit the official Income Tax e-filling website to link your PAN with Aadhaar. Let’s go through the steps to link Aadhaar with PAN online from below:

Step 1: Visit the UIDAI official website & book an online appointment to visit the Aadhaar Seva Kendra.

Step 2: Report to the Aadhaar Centre (Aahaar Seva Kendra) as per the scheduled date & time with the original documents, including the existing Aadhaar card.

Step 3: Provide the basic details and verify OTP to update your phone number on Aahdaar.

Step 4: Collect the acknowledgement for future reference.

A message will be displayed indicating that your request to link Aadhaar & PAN has been successfully submitted.

Link Bank Account to Aadhaar

Linking bank account with Aadhaar is crucial for receiving government benefits and subsidies directly; which,

• Can be done online through bank's internet banking account, mAadhaar, or official Aadhaar app.
• Offline methods include visiting the nearest bank branch or ATM and providing Aadhaar number.
• Enables access to government benefits like welfare funds, scholarships, and MNREGA wages.
• Process can also be done through messaging or missed calls.

Download Aadhaar Card

Individuals can download the e-aadhaar or Aadhaar PDF from the UIDAI official website, m-aadhaar app or on UMANG App. Aadhaar Card can be downloaded using your Aadhaar Number, Enrolment ID (EID) or Virtual ID (VID).

Check out the steps to download the Aadhaar card below:

• Step 1: Visit UIDAI myAadhaar website - myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
• Step 2: Scroll down & click on ‘Download Aadhaar’.
• Step 3: Select the option ‘Aadhaar Number’ or ‘Enrolment ID’ or ‘Virtual ID’
• Step 4: As per your choice, enter the ‘Aadhaar Number’, ‘EID’ or ‘VID’
• Step 5: Enter Captcha & Verify the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to download the Aadhaar card PDF.

Once the OTP is verified, the Aadhaar PDF will be downloaded to your device. Open the PDF & enter the e-Aadhaar password to open the PDF.

Update Aadhaar Card

Individuals can update their Aadhaar details through online & offline modes. You can update the demographic details online. However, to update the biometrics data, name, gender, DOB, mobile number, & other details, you need to visit the Aadhaar Centre.

Check the steps to update your Aadhaar card:

• Step 1: Visit UIDAI myAadhaar website - myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
• Step 2: For Aadhaaar address update, click on the ‘Document Update’. Whereas, for other updates, book an online appointment to visit the Aadhaar Centre.
• Step 3: For address updates, fill in the required details, upload the Proof of Address Document, and submit the request for Aadhaar address change.
• Step 4: For biometrics, mobile number, & other updates, visit the Aadhaar centre with original documents and complete the process.
• Step 5: Save the Aadhaar update acknowledgement receipt for future reference.

Aadhaar Card Status

Check the Aadhaar Enrolment or Update status online on the official website. You can check the Aadhaar status online using the SRN, URN or Enrolment Number.

The process to check the Aadhaar status will depend on the type of Aadhaar update. Generally, SRN (Service Request Number) or URN (Update Request Number) will be sufficient to check the status of your Aadhaar update.

To check the status of New Aadhaar enrolment, use the enrolment ID to track and check the status of Aadhaar. Here are the general steps to check Aadhaar Card status online:

• Step 1: Visit UIDAI myAadhaar website - myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
• Step 2: Based on the Aadhaar service, click on the respective option.
• Step 3: Enter your SRN or URN or Enrolment ID.
• Step 4: Enter other details as required and click on ‘Submit’ to check your Aadhaar status.

Order PVC Aadhaar Card

PVC Aadhaar card is a new Aadhaar format introduced by UIDAI. This card is made of PolyVinyl Chloride (PVC) material, which makes it more long-lasting in comparison to paper-based cards. PVC Aadhaar is also equally valid and has all the information like name, Aadhaar number, and photograph. You can order your Aadhaar PVC Card online to get it delivered on your present Aadhaar Card address.

The steps to order PVC Aadhaar Card online are as follow:

To check the status of New Aadhaar enrolment, use the enrolment ID to track and check the status of Aadhaar. Here are the general steps to check Aadhaar Card status online:

• Step 1: Visit UIDAI myAadhaar website - myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
• Step 2: Scroll down & click on ‘Order Aadhaar PVC Card’
• Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar Number, Captcha and Mobile Number.
• Step 4: Verify the OTP to start the ordering process.
• Step 5: Go through the details on the screen, Pay ₹50/- and complete your PVC Aadhaar Card order.

Once the order is placed, you will receive a SMS on your registered mobile. Also, save the SRN number for future reference to track your PVC Aadhaar Card Order

m-Aadhaar App

The mAadhaar app launched by UIDAI has helped Aadhaar holders carry their demographic information, like name, date of birth, gender, and address, in one go. This app allows users to lock/unlock their biometric data and generate TOTP (Timebase One Time Password) for authentication purposes. You can update your Aadhaar details through this app after biometric authentication.

With the mAadhaar app, you can share your eKYC details whenever it is required. You can add up to 3 profiles in the app, that are linked to the same registered mobile number. Aadhaar holders can download their Aadhaar details directly from the app and use them as a valid proof of identity when needed.

You can update your Aadhaar details, and check the status of various services, like linking your mobile number or bank account with Aadhaar, etc. You can generate a virtual ID for authentication and streamline accessing Aadhaar details.

UIDAI Aadhaar Services

One can avail a variety of Aadhaar services from UIDAI. Let’s go through the list of Aadhaar services from below:

• Enroll for Aadhaar
• Update Aadhaar
• Download Aadhaar
• Check Aadhaar Validity
• Verify Mobile Number / Email
• Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID / VID
• Virtual ID (VID) Generator
• Bank Seeding Status
• Lock / Unlock Aadhaar Biometric
• Order PVC Aadhar
• Track Aadhaar PVC Order Status
• Track Aadhaar Enrolment / Update Status
• Book Aadhaar Appointment
• Aadhaar Grievance & Feedback
• Check Aadhaar Grievance / Feedback Status

Aadhaar Customer Care

You can reach out to UIDAI for Aadhaar related queries through phone, email, chat, letter and website.

• Phone - 1947 [ Toll Free ] (In 12 Languages)
• Email: help@uidai.gov.in
• Chat: Aadhaar Mitra

Benefits of Aadhaar Card

1. Identification: The primary purpose of Aadhaar is to provide a unique identification number to residents in India. Aadhaar has biometric and demographic data for an unique identification.
2. Government Schemes: Aadhaar is essential to get the benefit of government schemes and subsidies. It ensures that government benefits reach the right person with a unique identity.
3. Transactions: Aadhaar linked to bank accounts enables direct transfer of government funds.
4. Official Documentation: Aadhaar is often used as proof of identity for any eKYC to reduce unnecessary paperwork.
5. Application of Passport: Aadhaar simplifies the process of application by serving as a proof of residence and identity.
6. Pension Distribution: Pensioners can get their pensions directly in their account by linking their aadhaar with bank.
7. Digital Services: Aadhaar enables digital verification and authentication for different service and transactions

Tips to Protect Your Identity with Aadhaar

Avoid Aadhaar based transactions in your bank account that are not known to you. Here’s what you are advised to do besides locking your biometrics in UIDAI masking your details is necessary.

• Do not share the One Time Password (OTP): Please click here for process to lock/unlock your biometrics. Do not share your base One Time Password with any person and agency. No UIDAI representative asks for an OTP via call, e-mail and SMS. So whenever things come to you as OTP please don’t share.
• UIDAI also recognises digital Aadhaar card: Hence, instead of printing the base, save the digital copy on the mobile or laptop. If you are downloading it in other’s machine, make sure you delete its local copy.
• Register your mobile number for verification: If you have not yet registered the number or changed the number,. then, update your number by visiting the nearest Aadhaar centre.
• State the purpose of documentation: While submitting the documents, do not forget to mention the purpose. For example, if you share the Aadhaar card photocopy for a bank account opening, you should write in the photocopy as identity proof for an account open only at the bank.

Check Your transactions: Visit the official website of UIDAI and check when and where the 12-digit unique identification code was used. You can also visit the official website of UIDAI to check out whether the Aadhaar biometric lock or unlock status to prevent the misuse of your Aadhaar card.

Do not share your Aadhaar mobile application passwords with anyone and make sure it is not being repeated with your computer and email login password.