If you still don’t have an aadhaar card, you might be living under a rock. Almost every Indian, including children, have their own registered unique identification card in the current scenario.
The aadhaar was introduced in 2010 to get all Indians registered with a unique identification number, a 12-digit number written on each card.
From taking out money from your bank account to signing up for health insurance, you need to get aadhaar card. Aadhaar has all your demographic and biometric details, making you eligible for various benefits and services offered by the government.
However, if you think your data will be shared or compromised, that is not the case here. So you can take a long deep breath and gear up to get aadhaar card right away!
Key Takeaways
- The aadhaar is now the biggest identification scheme in the world.
- Aadhaar doesn’t discriminate and offers the same benefits to every individual registered.
- There are numerous aadhaar enrollment centers or aadhaar Seva Kendra where you can submit your details to get aadhaar card.
- The aadhaar can be downloaded online as well.
- You can apply online if you have to update any information or get any rectification done, such as your name, number, or address.
How to Apply to Get Aadhaar Card Online/ Offline?
To get aadhaar card, you will have to visit the nearest enrollment center. The enrollment is free of cost, and you won’t have to pay a single penny for enrolling. You can find your nearest center by visiting the official site of UIDAI. You can locate a center via three different methods: entering your state, your pin code, or your name, city, and district.
You can also book an appointment at the enrollment center by entering your state or location. On the official page of UIDAI, you will find two options-
- Book your appointment at UIDAI Run aadhaar Seva Kendra
- Book your appointment at Registrar Run aadhaar Seva Kendra
You can proceed with whichever is closest to you. Once you appear at the enrollment center, submit the duly filled application form, which you can download online. Fill the details in full caps and ensure there are no mistakes before submitting it ahead.
Remember that you will have to be present at the enrollment center to get aadhaar; submitting your biometric information, including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, is mandatory. Here’s a little breakdown for your better understanding of how to apply to get aadhaar card online-
Step 1: Book your appointment with the aadhaar enrollment center
Step 2: Download the form or take it from the center and fill in all the correct information
Step 3: Self attest all the documents to support the information you have mentioned in the form
Step 4: Submit your photograph as well
Step 5: Give your biometric scans at the center. It includes getting all your fingerprints, iris scanned, and a picture.
Step 6: Get your slip from the enrollment center
Source: Economic times
At the enrollment center, you will get a 14-digit number via which you can easily track your aadhaar status till the time you receive it via post or download it directly from the official website of UIDAI.
Did You Know?
If someone is suffering from an eye ailment, cataract, complete blindness, or anything that may create iris scan problems, they can still get aadhaar card. All one must do is submit documents supporting the ailment, and the rest will be taken care of!
Documents required to get aadhaar card
While applying to get aadhaar card, it is mandatory to submit the supporting documents to verify all the claims you’ve made on the form, or everything will get rejected. Note that these documents will also be required if you are updating any information or making any changes in your aadhaar, but because you are reading this, you most probably don’t have an aadhaar card; you need to have all the documents. These documents are categorized into 4 different categories-
- Id proof (name and photo mandatory for verification)
- Address proof (name and address mandatory)
- Proof of date of birth
- Proof of relationship (document should mention the head of the family)
Remember to take the original documents as they will be scanned at the enrollment center and returned to you. You don’t have to get the documents photocopied as they won’t be accepted, so save your time and money. Also, don’t forget to take your original documents back.
Here’s a list of alternative documents that you can present to support your information for each category to get aadhaar card asap!
Id proof (name and photo mandatory for verification)
- PAN Card
- Voter ID
- Passport
- Driving License
- Bank ATM Card with picture
- Pensioner Photo Card
- Government-issued handicapped certificate
- Bhamashah Card
- In case of a name change, gazette notification is required
- Marriage certificate with photograph
- In case you live in a rural area, then an id card issued by the mukhiya or panchayat head will also work
- SC/ST/OBC certificate (must include a photo)
Address proof (name and address mandatory)
- Ration Card
- Voter ID
- Water bill (not older than 3 months)
- Gas bill (not older than 3 months)
- Insurance policy
- Electricity bill (not older than 3 months)
- ID card from an educational institution
- NREGS job card
- Freedom fighter card
- Spouse’s passport
- In case you live in rural areas, an id card with the address issued by the head of the panchayat will work
Proof of date of birth
- PAN Card
- Birth Certificate
- University or School Board mark sheet
- Pension order
- ID card issued by any educational institution
Proof of relationship (document should mention the head of the family)
- MNREGA job card
- Birth Certificate
- Marriage certificate issued by the government
- Bhamashah Card
- Army canteen card
- PDS card
- Passport
How to Check Your Aadhaar Card Status?
Once you have enrolled to get aadhaar, you can track its status by the 14-digit enrollment number issued to you. Upon signing up, you will receive a message on your registered mobile phone. Here are the steps to track your aadhaar card–
Step 1: Visit official website of UIDAI
Step 2: Enter the 14 digit enrollment number or SRN
Step 3: Enter the date and time as mentioned on the enrollment slip
Step 4: Enter your security code, and you can now check the status
However, if you are clumsy and have already lost your EID or enrollment ID, which is important to track the aadhaar card status, you can still access it if you have your registered mobile number with you.
How to Download an e-Aadhaar Card?
Having both a physical and e-aadhaar card is imperative if you want to take advantage of all the services offered to a cardholder. Now that you have enrolled for an aadhaar card like you were supposed to eons ago, you can download a digital aadhaar card to make life easier for yourself.
Physical aadhaar takes a few weeks to arrive as it is dispatched via post. Meanwhile, you can download the e-Aadhaar and submit it wherever required, as it is also widely accepted at almost every institution. If you ever forget your aadhaar at home, an e-Aadhaar card will come in handy and save you in various circumstances.
To download your e-Aadhaar, it is mandatory to have your registered mobile number handy as you will receive an OTP. You can download the e-Aadhaar card by visiting the Self-Service Update Portal. Here are the steps to download e-Aadhaar card–
Step 1: Visit the official website of UIDAI
Step 2: Select the Download aadhaar option
Step 3: Enter your 12 digit aadhaar number
Step 4: Enter the captcha
Step 5: Enter the OTP
Step 6: Download your e-Aadhaar card
However, if you don’t have internet access or live in a rural area and want to have an e-Aadhaar card, visit your nearest enrollment center, and you can ask for a copy of your e-Aadhaar. Take all the required documents and details, such as your EID or 12-digit number and your registered phone with yourself.
Did you know?
Did you know that in 2017, ‘aadhaar’ was declared ‘Hindi Word Of The Year’ by Oxford Dictionary? More reasons to get aadhar, right?
Importance of Aadhaar Card
There are numerous benefits of having an aadhaar card. Once you get an aadhaar card, you are eligible for numerous advantages. Here are some key points for your understanding of how an aadhaar card is important for you, and you should apply to get aadhaar card-
- Having an aadhaar card makes the acquisition of a passport faster. Unlike before, you can now get a passport within 10-days.
- While opening a bank account, aadhaar can be used as a KYC document.
- If you do not have any other document to prove your identity, having an aadhaar is enough. The non-intelligent id card includes everyone regardless of gender, category, race, and status quo.
- The aadhaar card lets the resident take control as they can update the information on their own via the official UIDAI portal.
- If someone plans to open a bank account under Jhan Dhan Yojna, producing an aadhaar card is mandatory.
Word to Remember
SRN
SRN is known as Service Request Number. Consisting of 28-digit, the SRN is generated once the request for a new aadhaar is raised. The status of the aadhaar card can be traced by entering the SRN on the portal, as mentioned above.
On a final note
Having an aadhaar card is of utmost importance. If you still don’t have it, apply to get aadhaar card today and enjoy the benefits offered by the government. Also, having an aadhaar will save you from the hassle of submitting multiple documents to save your claim if you ever try to sign up for any government service. Also, aadhaar is now asked almost everywhere, so go, gather your documents and take a walk towards the enrollment center.
FAQs
If you do have a valid Indian passport, you can easily apply to get aadhaar card. Visit your nearest aadhaar enrollment center and apply to get aadhaar card with all the required documents.
Linking your bank account with aadhaar card is optional, and you can skip linking them. Instead, submit any alternative document mentioned by the Reserve Bank of India. However, aadhaar is the preferred KYC document to open any bank account. Though if you wish to avail the subsidies offered under the aadhaar’s section 7, submitting an aadhaar card will be mandatory.
Children under 5 are also eligible to get aadhaar. However, after they turn 15 years of age, their biometrics data will be taken again, but the UID number will remain the same.
Yes, as per UIDAI, the e-Aadhaar is legally valid and will be accepted by all the agencies. All the forms of aadhaar card issued by UIDAI are accepted, and should they refuse to accept, the holder may file a complaint against the agency to the concerned authorities.
No, you cannot apply to get aadhaar more than once. The 14-digit UID is generated in the first attempt, and you may visit the enrollment center to seek help. However, if you have lost your aadhaar card or require an e-aadhaar, you may reapply for it on the portal mentioned above.
