Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made it clear that the 12-digit Aadhaar number is only an identity proof, not a proof of citizenship or residence. The clarification comes as many people continue to treat Aadhaar as a document that can establish their nationality or date of birth. UIDAI’s statement aims to end this confusion and prevent misuse or misinterpretation of the card’s purpose.
Misunderstandings about Aadhaar’s legal value
Over the years, Aadhaar has become linked with almost every essential public service—from banking and mobile connections to welfare schemes. Because of this widespread use, people started assuming that it could also act as legal proof of citizenship or birth. UIDAI clarified that Aadhaar serves only to confirm identity and should not be used as an official record to prove nationality, residence, or date of birth.
Postal department issues supporting order
Adding weight to UIDAI’s clarification, the Department of Posts recently issued an official order stating that Aadhaar can only be used to establish a person’s identity. The order clearly mentions that it does not serve as valid evidence of citizenship, residence, or date of birth. The department also directed all post offices to display this notice publicly and ensure that all relevant staff and citizens are informed about it. This move is intended to bring uniform awareness across all postal branches and eliminate misunderstanding among the public.
Advisory for using Aadhaar cautiously
The order further advised that Aadhaar should not be used as a final or conclusive document to confirm the date of birth. In government and official documentation processes, individuals are expected to produce valid documents like a birth certificate, passport, or matriculation certificate to establish their birth details. By restricting Aadhaar’s role to identity confirmation, the government hopes to prevent its misuse in legal and administrative processes.
Fee for updating Aadhaar details increased
From October 1, the cost of updating Aadhaar details has also gone up. This is the first revision in nearly five years. For demographic updates such as changes in name, address, or date of birth, the fee has been increased from Rs 50 to Rs 75. Similarly, for biometric updates, the fee has risen from Rs 100 to Rs 125. However, Aadhaar enrolment and updates for newborns will continue to remain free. The changes apply across all Aadhaar centres and service outlets.
Special rules for children’s Aadhaar updates
UIDAI has also reminded that biometric updates for children are compulsory at specific age intervals. These include updates at the age of five years, between five and seven years, and again between fifteen and seventeen years. This ensures that the Aadhaar record stays accurate as the child grows and physical features change. UIDAI believes that these clarifications and updates are essential to prevent wrong usage and to maintain the authenticity of Aadhaar as a reliable identification system.
In a nutshell
1. UIDAI clarified that Aadhaar is only an identity proof.
2. It cannot be used to prove citizenship or residence.
3. Aadhaar also cannot serve as proof of date of birth.
4. Postal department issued an order supporting this clarification.
5. Post offices asked to display the notice publicly.
6. Fees for Aadhaar updates increased after five years.
7. Biometric updates for children made mandatory at fixed age stages.
