AADHAAR

Rajasthan govt fixes website bugs exposing residents’ sensitive Jan Aadhaar info

IANS 30 January 2024

Rajasthan government has fixed security issues impacting its website related to Jan Aadhaar that exposed millions of residents' personal information and sensitive documents.

Aadhaar

UIDAI Says Aadhaar Can't Be Used as Proof of Date of Birth, EPFO Removes Aadhaar as DoB Proof

Moneylife Digital Team 18 January 2024

In yet another clarification, the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has asked all those concerned to delete the use of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth (DoB) from the list of acceptable documents. UIDAI says it observed that authentication user agencies (AUAs) and know your customer (KYC) user agencies (KUAs) are considering and accepting Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar as one of the acceptable documents for proof of date of birth.

Regulations

Concerns over Aadhaar Data Breach and Frauds Prompt Civil Society Forum to Call for Banking Safeguards

Moneylife Digital Team 03 November 2023

In a recent development that has sent shockwaves through the banking and financial sectors, the Bank Bachao Desh Bachao Manch, a civil society forum, has penned a letter to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Shaktikanta Das, expressing serious concerns about the reported Aadhaar data breach and the potential for exponential growth in fraudulent activities across the nation through the Aadhaar enabled payment system (AEPS).

Consumer Issues

Bank Frauds with Aadhaar Biometrics: Civil Society Forum Writes To RBI Governor Seeking IT Security Audit System for Banks

IANS 16 October 2023

In the wake of multiple instances of online bank frauds through misuse of biometrics data in Aadhaar cards, a popular civil society forum here has appealed to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das for the introduction of information security (IS) audit system for banks.

Aadhaar

Moody's Says Aadhaar Biometrics Leads to Denials in Hot, Humid Climate; UIDAI Denies

Moneylife Digital Team 26 September 2023

Raising serious doubts about biometrics used in India's Aadhaar system, rating agency Moody's Investors Service says for people in hot and humid conditions, biometrics results in service denials. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the agency that provides the 12-digit number, however, has refuted Moody's opinion, calling it 'baseless'. This, however, is not the first time that doubt has been raised over Aadhaar biometrics.

Aadhaar

Linking Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls is not mandatory, EC tells SC

IANS 21 September 2023

The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that linking Aadhaar numbers with electoral rolls is not mandatory under the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Rules 2022.

Right to Information

RTI and CIC Direction To Correct Wrong Aadhaar Update Helps Delhi Senior Citizen Get Enhanced Pension

Moneylife Digital Team 29 August 2023

Ramwati, a Delhi-based senior citizen, ought to have had her old-age pension enhanced after the age of 70, but the Delhi government refused to do so despite multiple applications. The amount was Rs500, which is a considerable sum for the underprivileged and those without an income. This is an amazing instance, where the Right to Information (RTI) Act and an order by the central information commission (CIC) finally set right a wrong.

Citizens' Issues

Is the Passport Office Enforcing DigiLocker via Voluntarily Mandatory Aadhaar?

Moneylife Digital Team 03 August 2023

The regional passport office in Mumbai issued a press note that makes DigiLocker mandatory if the applicant submits an Aadhaar as proof of residential address or date of birth.

Taxation

NRIs, Who Are Not Required To Possess Aadhaar, Struggling To Reactivate Their PAN

Moneylife Digital Team 14 July 2023

At midnight on 30th June and 1 July 2023, the Indian government mandatorily deactivated all permanent account numbers (PANs) issued by the income tax (I-T) department with proper verification for not linking it with Aadhaar numbers. However, in their bulldozing mission, the government and tax department deactivated the PANs of almost all non-resident Indians (NRIs) as well. NRIs are not required to possess an Aadhaar number and hence cannot link their PANs within the deadline. Since then, many NRIs have been venting their frustration about deactivated PANs on social media. Reactivating PANs is tedious, and NRIs must submit documents to show their non-residency period.

Taxation

Rs15,000 Crore GST Fraud Exposes How Aadhaar Data of Poor Misused To Create Companies

IANS 26 June 2023

The Noida Police have arrested three more suspects in connection with an alleged Rs 15,000 crore GST scam, officials said. With this, the total number of arrests in the case has increased to 15.

Aadhaar

Fake Aadhaar & Jan Dhan Accounts: CAG Must Conduct a Special Audit of Direct Fund Transfers under Centrally Sponsored Schemes: Sarma

Moneylife Digital Team 16 May 2023

Calling the proliferation of fake Aadhaar cards and false Jan Dhan bank accounts a serious threat, EAS Sarma, former secretary to the government of India, has urged the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) to conduct a special audit of these fund transfers under the centrally sponsored schemes (CSSs).

Taxation

25% of Fake Billing in Aadhaar-GST Scam Done in Gujarat: Report

Moneylife Digital Team 12 May 2023

In a major breakthrough in the Bhavnagar fake billing scam, which involved tampering with the Aadhaar data of unsuspecting people to fraudulently obtain goods and service tax (GST) registrations in their name, investigators have found that at least 25% of the estimated Rs20,000 crore of fake billing took place in Gujarat, says a news report.

Aadhaar

Proliferation of Fake Aadhaar Cards a Threat to Integrity of 2024 Elections: EAS Sarma

Moneylife Digital Team 02 May 2023

Highlighting widespread public concerns about the linking of Aadhaar with the electoral rolls, because of reports of the proliferation of fake Aadhaar in several states, EAS Sarma, former secretary to the government of India, reiterated that the election commission of India (ECI) should address each concern he has expressed and place its detailed point-wise response in the public domain.

Aadhaar

Fake Aadhaar, PAN Cards a Click Away: Report

Moneylife Digital Team 22 April 2023

Until a few years ago, online scamsters had to hire 'experts' to make fake identity cards for a fee. But making a bogus Aadhaar or PAN card is just a mouse click away.

Aadhaar

Nearly 6 Crore Dead People Still Have Aadhaar Numbers: Govt

Moneylife Digital Team 05 April 2023

Nearly 6%, or more than six crore dead people, still hold their Aadhaar numbers since there is no provision to delete or deactivate these numbers, the Union government told the Lok Sabha.

Citizens' Issues

PAN-Aadhaar Linking Deadline Extended to 30th June

Moneylife Digital Team 28 March 2023

The Union government on Tuesday extended the deadline for linking a permanent account number (PAN) with an Aadhaar number to 30 June 2023.

Aadhaar

UIDAI urges verification entities to comply with Aadhaar usage hygiene

IANS 10 January 2023

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued a set of guidelines for offline verification seeking entities (OVSEs) highlighting several usage hygiene issues and ways to further enhance people's trust while using Aadhaar voluntarily for lawful purposes.

Aadhaar

Updating Aadhaar Every 10 Years Is Not Mandatory: Govt Clarifies

Moneylife Digital Team 14 December 2022

There is no proposal before the Union government to make it mandatory to update Aadhaar every 10 years by amending Aadhaar regulations, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Aadhaar

Verify Aadhaar before accepting it as proof of identity: UIDAI

IANS 25 November 2022

With a view to curb any misuse, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said that before accepting an Aadhaar either in physical or electronic form for establishing identity of an individual, the entities concerned should verify it.

Nation

SC Agrees To Examine Plea Challenging Electoral Roll, Aadhaar Linking

IANS 31 October 2022

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a petition against the Central government's decision to enable linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem.