What is an Aadhaar Card- Know Eligibility Criteria, Documents and more

An Aadhaar card is a unique identification number issued to each and every citizen of the country. It is one of the most important documents to be submitted for a major number of purposes.

Aadhaar card works as a proof of identity and hence, is mandatory for Indian citizens to have one. Anyone who fails to submit an Aadhaar card or does not carry it can restrict him/her for several activities.

Let us understand more about the Aadhaar card in the blog below!

What is an Aadhaar Card?

The Aadhaar card is a 12-digit identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). This one-of-a-kind number is generated by combining a person’s biometric details, such as fingerprints and iris scans, with demographic information, such as address and date of birth.

The Aadhaar card number is one-of-a-kind, which eliminates duplication and fake identification
It can be used to access a variety of government-run welfare schemes and programmes
Aadhaar card prompts transparency

Aadhaar Issuing Authority	Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Inception of Aadhaar Card	2010
Aadhaar Card Validity	Lifetime
Total Number of Enrolment Centres	More than 30,000
Total Number of Enrolment (approx)	Over 125 crore
Aadhaar Card Customer Care Number	1947

Who is Eligible for an Aadhaar Card?

Following people are eligible for an Aadhaar card-

Indian citizens
NRIs and foreigners who have been staying in India for over 12 months
Baal Aadhaar card is meant for children below the age of 5 years

What are the Documents Required for an Aadhaar Card?

To apply for an Aadhaar card, an applicant must submit the following documents:

Proof of Address	Proof of Identity
Voter ID Card	PAN Card
Passport	Birth Certificate
Ration Card or PDS Photo Card	–
Driving License	–

Other than these documents, biometric information is also mandatory to be submitted-

Iris scan
Fingerprints
Photo

“Read also- How to apply for an Aadhaar card without documents“

How to Enrol for an Aadhaar Card?

To enrol for an Aadhaar Card, an applicant must follow the instructions provided.

Locate the Aadhaar enrollment centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra on the UIDAI website
Fill the Aadhaar card form and submit all the supporting documents to the concerned officials
Provide biometric information
Collect the acknowledgement slip after the process
You will be notified of your Aadhaar card enrolment process on your registered mobile number and email address
Aadhaar card will be delivered to your mentioned address

How to Enrol for a BAAL Aadhaar Card?

Baal Aadhaar Card is issued to children below the age of 5 years. It is blue in colour and does not require a child’s biometrics. Following are the instructions to follow to enrol for a Baal Aadhaar card-

Visit the official UIDAI website to locate the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre
Fill out the Aadhaar application form with all of the necessary information
A child’s photograph will be required, however, there is no need to submit the child’s biometrics
Submit all relevant documents, such as the child’s birth certificate. It is necessary to submit one of the parents’ Aadhaar numbers for authentication
Collect the acknowledgement slip after submitting your documents
A verification message will be sent to the parent’s registered mobile number
The Baal Aadhaar card will be mailed to the specified address

#AadhaarChildEnrolment
A child below 5 years gets a blue colour #BaalAadhaar. Biometric update is mandatory at the age of 5 yrs.
Take your child to a nearby Aadhaar Kendra for #MandatoryBiometricUpdate. To locate #AadhaarEnrolment Centre, click here: https://t.co/oCJ66DD0fK pic.twitter.com/eehCUwjAVz

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) July 23, 2021

How to Check Aadhaar Card Status?

Following are the steps to check the Aadhaar card status–

Log in to the official UIDAI website
Click on ‘Check Aadhaar Status’ under ‘My Aadhaar’ section
Enter ‘Enrolment number’ and ‘time of enrolment’
Enter ‘captcha’ verification code and click on ‘Check Status’

How to Download an Aadhaar Card?

An applicant can download the Aadhaar card in case he/she hasnâ€™t received the physical copy of it. Following are the steps to download the Aadhaar card-

Visit the official website of UIDAI
Click on ‘Download AADHAR’ under the section ‘My Aadhaar’
Upon clicking the download button, you will be redirected to a new page with three options to choose from
Enter your Aadhaar number, enrolment ID or virtual ID
Enter captcha code
Click on ‘Send OTP’ or enter ‘TOTP’ to download your Aadhaar card

How to Verify the Aadhaar card?

Follow the given instructions to verify the Aadhaar card–

Visit the official website of UIDAI
Navigate to ‘Aadhaar services’ under the section ‘My Aadhaar’
Click on ‘Verify an Aadhaar number’
Enter 12 digit Aadhaar number and enter captcha code
Click on ‘Proceed to Verify’

How to Update/Edit the Aadhaar Card?

There are generally two reasons to update/edit Aadhaar card-

Change in demographic information like name, date of birth, gender, address, etc.
Biometric Aadhaar data

A user can update or edit their AADHAR card online or by visiting an Aadhaar enrolment centre. The steps for updating/editing your Aadhaar card online are as follows:

Visit the official website of UIDAI
Locate ‘Update Your Aadhaar’ under the section ‘My Aadhaar’
Click on ‘Update Demographic Data Online’ (if you would like to make a change in name, date of birth, gender etc)
Click on ‘Proceed to update Aadhaar’
Enter 12 digit Aadhaar number, enter the captcha and click on ‘send OTP’
You will receive an OTP to your registered mobile number
Follow the instructions afterwards to update/edit your Aadhaar

Things to Remember when Updating the Aadhaar

When updating the Aadhaar form online or offline, it is critical to pay close attention to every detail. The following are some things to keep in mind when filling out the Aadhaar form:

Fill the Aadhaar application form in capital letters
Do not use salutations such as Mr., Mrs., or Miss before the name
Mention the mobile number that is currently in use
Include all relevant and up-to-date information
Add all the relevant documents. Do not submit expired documents. It may result in the rejection of your application
Fill in the complete address where your Aadhaar card will be delivered
Fill out the Aadhaar application form in either English or your native language

Is it true that TIN is also called a VAT number?

Yes, a TIN number is also called a VAT number when used for intra-state transactions.

How to check my Aadhaar card status?

How long does it take to update information in Aadhaar?

It takes 90 days to update the information. A confirmation message is sent to the user after a successful registration.

For how long does the Aadhaar card remain valid?

An Aadhaar card remains valid for a lifetime.

Can a foreign national apply for an Aadhaar Card?

Yes, a foreign national can apply for an Aadhaar card if he/she has resided in India for more than 182 days or 12 months.

Is it mandatory to link PAN with Aadhaar for income tax purposes?

Yes, it is mandatory to link PAN with Aadhaar for income tax purposes. The last day to link PAN with Aadhaar is 31st March 2023; post that, a penalty has to be paid by the user.

What is the password of e-Aadhaar?

It is the first 4 letters of the name and year of birth (YYYY).