Big News! Now Aadhaar Card can not be used as proof of Date of Birth

Big News! Now Aadhaar Card can not be used as proof of Date of Birth

Now, Aadhaar Cards can not be used as proof of Date of Birth or Citizenship. This is a big news for all Indians as right now majority of citizens use Aadhaar Card as a proof of Date of Birth.

As you can see in image above, the updated Aadhaar cards and digital versions now clearly say they only prove your identity, not your citizenship or birthdate. The latest warning on Aadhaar cards in India makes it clear that Aadhaar is not proof that someone is a citizen, and it also doesn’t show the person’s date of birth.

Even though Aadhaar is accepted as proof of uniqueness and residence, it’s important to know that it may not be enough on its own to prove identity for certain government purposes. This change is to help government departments and others use Aadhaar correctly, preventing it from being misused for things other than checking who you are. 

Aadhaar and Citizenship

Aadhaar has never been considered proof of citizenship, as even foreign nationals residing in India for at least six months are eligible to obtain it. Despite this, various government departments have accepted Aadhaar for purposes reserved for citizens or adults.

Clarifications on Usage

The Election Commission of India, for instance, has used Aadhaar as proof of date of birth for voter enrollment. The new clarifications printed on Aadhaar cards challenge such allowances. Additionally, the cards now include a warning that offline authentication should be done by scanning the QR code or using an XML file issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Impact on Organizations

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which manages the mandatory retirement fund for salaried employees, has ceased accepting Aadhaar as proof of date of birth. In a circular issued on January 16, Aadhaar was removed from the list of acceptable documents for this purpose.

Background

The invalidity of Aadhaar for determining date of birth and citizenship has been known for years. In 2018, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarified that Aadhaar is not a proof of date of birth. A Bombay High Court judgment in the previous year emphasizing this point was cited in a December 2023 circular by UIDAI, reminding organizations of this fact.

How to download New Aadhaar Card?

To download a new Aadhaar card, you can follow these steps:

1. Visit the Official Aadhaar Website:
   Go to the official Aadhaar website, which is https://uidai.gov.in/ or https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/.
2. Select “Download Aadhaar”:
   Look for the “Download Aadhaar” option on the website. You may find this under the “My Aadhaar” section.
3. Enter Aadhaar Number or VID:
   You will be prompted to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number or VID (Virtual ID) and the security code displayed on the page.
4. Request OTP:
   If required, you’ll need to request an OTP (One-Time Password) to your registered mobile number. Alternatively, you can use the TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password) feature through the mAadhaar mobile app.
5. Enter OTP:
   Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number in the designated space on the website.
6. Download Aadhaar:
   After entering the OTP, you can download the Aadhaar PDF. The PDF is password-protected, and the password is the first four letters of your name in CAPS followed by your birth year.
7. Open PDF:
   Open the downloaded PDF using a PDF reader, and you can view or print your Aadhaar card.

Please note that to download the Aadhaar card, you need to have your Aadhaar number or VID, and your mobile number must be registered with Aadhaar for OTP verification. If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, you may need to update it by visiting an Aadhaar Enrollment Centre.