All the questions around Aadhaar, answered

UIDAI keeps only the basic information of the users, viz. name, address, gender, DoB, mobile number, Email ID, finger prints, iris scans, and facial photograph.

However, it does not keep the following in its database: information of sensitive nature such as bank account details, shares, mutual funds, financial and property details, health records, family, caste, religion, education etc.

On September 26, 2018, a five-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by the then CJI Dipak Misra, struck down some provisions relating to authentication of the Aadhaar program, and the Section 57 of Aadhaar Act.

This disarmed private entities like banks, telecom operators, and e-wallet service providers from asking you to furnish your Aadhaar information in order to avail their services.

Aadhaar is still mandatory for the following services:

PAN: The linkage of PAN and Aadhaar continues to be mandatory, under Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act.

I-T Returns: Since Aadhaar-PAN linking is still mandatory, one will need their Aadhaar card at the time of filing of Income Tax returns.

Welfare schemes: Aadhaar is also mandatory for availing various government-run welfare schemes and for grant of subsidies.

Aadhaar is no longer mandatory for these services:

Bank account: After the SC verdict, one does not need to link Aadhaar with their new/existing bank accounts.

Mobile connection: After the scrapping of Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, private companies like telecom operators can no longer ask users to link their Aadhaar with SIM cards.

Schools/Exams: Aadhaar is no longer mandatory to register for tests like NEET, UGC and CBSE Board exams.

According to the UIDAI, eAadhaar, ie. the electronically downloaded Aadhaar is an equally valid document as the original Aadhaar issued by UIDAI.

Both these documents are accepted by all concerned agencies.

If any organization or agency refuses to accept eAadhaar as a valid document, a complaint can be lodged in this regard with the higher authorities at the concerned department/agency.