Aadhaar Card - What is Aadhaar & Complete Guide in 2024

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Aadhaar

What is an Aadhaar Card?

The Aadhaar card is a significant document that has a 12-unique identification number that is given to every Indian citizen by the UIDAI. It is a biometric document that puts all your personal information permanently in the government’s database. As an Indian citizen, you have a right to get an Aadhaar number under the Aadhaar Act 2016. 

You can apply for Aadhaar if you have several supporting documents to submit to the UIDAI-authorised centers for verification. Having an Aadhaar card in India is incredibly crucial since you can also get several benefits from it. You can go through the information given below to understand the benefits that you would get with an Aadhaar and some other information. 

Benefits of the Aadhaar Card

Aadhaar is such a document that comes with some of the highest amount of benefits. Many of these benefits include the following:

Income Tax & PAN Card

The Aadhaar is incredibly beneficial for your tax returns. In 2018, the Supreme Court made it compulsory to link the PAN and Aadhaar. The connection is required to submit your tax returns with the PAN card, and the Aadhaar plays a crucial role.

Identity Card

The Aadhaar works as an identification card everywhere in India. It is a biometric identity verification system that is seen as the official proof of anyone being an Indian citizen.  

Trading Account Opening

You can complete your Know Your Customer (KYC) process easily with the help of an Aadhaar, and you can get everything validated online. The KYC process is important for making a trading account and many other activities. 

Passport in 10 Days

UIDAI has simplified the process of making your passport by permitting you to utilise your Aadhaar as one of the documents. With an Aadhaar, you are no longer required to bring any other document to apply for your passport. Even the renewals are made much simpler using e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar. 

Proof of Residence

Aadhaar is a recognized government document you can use as an address proof to access the different private and government services.

Driving License

Aadhaar is beneficial for being used as evidence of age and address when you apply for a driving license. The rule has been made by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which also has made it possible for you to link your Aadhaar with your driver's license to prevent any duplication. 

Bank Accounts

The Aadhaar is among one of the fundamental documents that you will need while opening a bank account. However, it is not a requirement for you to link your bank account with the Aadhaar, according to a recent Supreme Court ruling. 

Government Subsidy

Government assistance programs are connected to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar to use transparency in government subsidies. Many other government programs require a connection with Aadhaar to avoid any kind of duplicity. 

Information on the Aadhaar Card

The Aadhaar card has many important information about the person who is enrolled in it. Some information is printed on the card, whereas some are encrypted and put in a QR code for safety. Therefore, some of the information that your Aadhaar includes involves the following:

  • IRIS Scan
  • Fingerprints
  • QR code representing the Aadhaar number
  • Residential Address
  • Gender
  • Photograph
  • Date of birth
  • Aadhaar card number
  • Name

How to Enroll for an Aadhaar Card

You can take many steps to make your own Aadhaar or enroll yourself in it. The steps include the following points given below:

Step 1: Visit your nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre. 

Step 2: Fill out your enrolment form with all the details put correctly. 

Step 3: Submit your biometric and demographic information. 

Step 4: You will also need your proof of address and proof of identification.

Step 5: After this, you will get an Aadhaar acknowledgment slip with your enrolment number. 

Enrolling for Aadhaar is entirely free, and you can follow the same process as the rest of the Indian citizens to create your own Aadhaar. 

You will need several different kinds of documents to make your Aadhaar card. These documents include evidence of address, identity, date of birth, and much more. Hence, all the documents that are required for all of these kinds include the following:

Aadhaar Documents as Proof of Identity

You can utilize any of the documents as proof of identity for the enrolment of the Aadhaar. 

  • Ration card
  • Passport
  • Government photo ID card
  • NREGA job card
  • Bank ATM card
  • PAN card
  • CGHS/ECHS photo card
  • Arms license
  • Driving license
  • Photo ID issued by an authorized educational institution
  • Voter ID
  • Aadhaar gazetted form with photo
  • Photo credit card
  • Pensioner photo card
  • Kissan photo passbook
  • Disability ID card or handicapped medical certificate
  • Freedom fighter photo card
  • Address card containing picture and name given by the Department of Posts

Aadhaar Documents for the Proof of Date of Birth

You can submit one of the documents below as proof of date of birth. 

  • Marksheet issued by a government board or university
  • Central/state pension payment order
  • Certificate of date of birth issued by a gazetted officer on a letterhead
  • PAN card
  • Birth certificate
  • SSC certificate
  • Passport

Aadhaar Documents as Address Proof

You can submit one of the following documents as address proof for your Aadhaar. 

  • Central or state government-issued allotment letter of accommodation
  • Marriage certificate containing address and issued by the government
  • Certificate of address issued by the head of the panchayat or any other equal authority for rural areas
  • CGHS/ECHS card
  • Income tax assessment order
  • Freedom fighter card 
  • Kissan passbook
  • Pensioner card
  • NREGA job card
  • Credit card statement 
  • Telephone bill
  • Caste and domicile certificate with photo
  • Registered rent/sale/lease agreement
  • Vehicle registration certificate
  • Disability ID card
  • Passport of parents for children below 18
  • Gas connection bill
  • Address card with a photo issued by the Department of Posts
  • Property tax receipt
  • Electricity bill
  • Water bill
  • Driving license
  • Government photo ID cards
  • Voter ID
  • Post office passbook or statement
  • Arms license
  • Insurance document
  • Passport
  • Ration card
  • Passbook
  • Bank statement

Conclusion

The Aadhaar is an important document that every Indian citizen needs to have. You can make your own Aadhaar card by visiting an Aadhaar enrolment center and completing the necessary paperwork. However, an important aspect of applying for your Aadhaar is submitting all the necessary documents. You can utilize the information given above to understand the documents that you need to take as evidence. Once you get your Aadhaar, it is beneficial for many other purposes, which makes it a necessity in most cases. 

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