Need of Adhaar Card and Penalties if Not Registered

The Aadhaar Card is a 12-digit identification number issued by the Indian government to its citizens. It is an important document that serves as identification and address proof. The Aadhaar Card is linked to a variety of social welfare programs, bank accounts, and mobile phone numbers. For many services and benefits, having an Aadhaar Card is now required, and the government has imposed penalties for those who do not register for one.

The Government of India funds numerous social welfare programs aimed at helping the underprivileged and most vulnerable segments of society. The Aadhaar platform provides a unique opportunity for the administration to rationalize its welfare distribution mechanism, ensuring transparency and structured governance.

Why is Adhaar Card Important?

Here is the list of the reasons to have a Adhaar Card −

Proof of Identity Card and Beyond

The Aadhar card, in addition to serving as identification, such as a voter ID or passport, has been designed to be used for a variety of services, making it a widely accepted government-issued identity card. To use these services, a person is not even required to register or apply for a new card. When applying for government jobs, for example, an Aadhar card can be used as proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of age. Aadhar is a versatile card in the same way that can be used for all government services and initiatives.

Availing facilities by Service Agencies

By using Aadhaar, the process of obtaining any service becomes simple and painless, and a person can easily obtain the facility or benefit without difficulty. For example, opening a bank account, applying for a passport, and many other things.

Inclusion of those lacking any form of identification

Many people lack the necessary identification to be eligible for state benefits. These residents can demonstrate their identity owing to the "Introducer" concept in Aadhaar for data authentication for the UIDAI.

Opening of Bank Accounts

For purposes of identification and authentication, an individual may use their Aadhaar card as one of the crucial documents under KYC, or Know Your Customer. The Aadhaar Card is accepted by banks and other financial institutions as valid identification with a photo and proof of address when processing service requests like opening bank accounts.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)

Aadhaar Card is linked to various social welfare schemes such as LPG subsidy, PDS (Public Distribution System), and MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). It helps in the direct transfer of benefits to the beneficiary's bank account, reducing corruption and leakages.

Ease of Provident Fund

Similar to pensions, the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made it easier for all PF account holders to submit claims using their Aadhaar numbers online.

Digital Life Certificate

Mr. Narendra Modi, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, introduced the 'Jeevan Pramaan for Pensioners' or Digital Life certificate. The objective was to eliminate the need for a pensioner to appear in person in order to receive a pension for the continuation of their scheme. Pensioners no longer need to come in person because their information is digitally stored and will be retrieved by the agency using their Aadhar Card numbers.

Apart from the above benefits, the Aadhaar card also helps in curbing fraud and corruption. It helps to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, which are often used for availing government subsidies and schemes. The Aadhaar card has also been instrumental in detecting and preventing money laundering and terrorist financing activities.

Penalties under the Aadhaar Act

The criminal offenses and penalties specified in the Aadhaar Act, 2016 are as follows.

• Impersonation by providing false demographic or biometric information at the time of enrollment is a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of Rs. 10,000, or both.

• Changing or attempting to change an Aadhaar number holder's demographic and biometric information is an offense punishable by imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of Rs. 10,000.

• Pretending to be an agency authorized to collect a resident's identity information is a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of Rs. 10,000 for an individual and Rs. 1 lakh for a company, or both.

• Intentionally transmitting/disclosing the information collected during enrolment/authentication to an unauthorized person or in violation of any agreement or arrangement made under the Adhaar Act is an offense punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of Rs. 10,000 for a person and Rs. 1 lakh for a company, or both.

• Unauthorized access to the central identities data repository (CIDR) and hacking are punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of Rs. ten lakhs.

• Tampering with data in the central identities data repository is a crime punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years and a fine of up to Rs. ten thousand.

• Unauthorized use of a person's identity information by a requesting entity or an entity looking for offline verification is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to Rs. 10,000 for an individual or Rs. 1 lakh for a business, or by both.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the Aadhaar Card has become a necessary document for Indians, serving as proof of identity and address. It is linked to a variety of social welfare programs, bank accounts, and mobile phone numbers.

Penalties for failing to register for an Aadhaar Card include exclusion from social welfare schemes, inability to access government services, etc. To avoid these penalties and enjoy the benefits of various government schemes and services, it is necessary to register for an Aadhaar Card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is an Aadhaar Card?

Ans. The Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Indian government to all its citizens. It contains biometric and demographic information of the cardholder.

Q2. What is the need for an Aadhaar Card?

Ans. An Aadhaar card is needed for various purposes, including identity verification, accessing government subsidies and services, opening bank accounts, and filing income tax returns.

Q3. What are the penalties for not registering for an Aadhaar Card?

Ans. There are no penalties as such for not registering for an Aadhaar card, but the card is necessary for accessing various government subsidies and services, so not having it could result in inconvenience and delay.

Q4. Is Aadhaar Card compulsory for income tax returns?

Ans. Yes, it is mandatory to link your Aadhaar card with your PAN card for filing income tax returns. If you fail to do so, your tax returns may be considered invalid.