The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced new rules effective December 1, altering the status of Aadhaar cards as valid proof of date of birth.
Consequently, individuals can no longer rely on their Aadhaar cards to establish their date of birth in any document.
To prevent fraudulent activities such as changing dates of birth on Aadhaar cards, the UIDAI now mandates the presentation of a birth certificate along with relevant documents for validation of date of birth.
Key Details and Changes:
Rule Implementation Date:
The new rules have been in effect since December 1, signifying a significant shift in the recognition and usage of Aadhaar cards for verifying dates of birth.
Preventing Date of Birth Alterations:
The primary motive behind this change is to curb fraudulent activities related to changing dates, months, and years on Aadhaar cards, which individuals exploited to gain benefits from various schemes.
Information on New Aadhaar Cards:
The UIDAI has incorporated information about not using Aadhaar as a valid date of birth document on newly issued Aadhaar cards. This aims to inform individuals about the revised rules.
Birth Certificate Requirement:
Under the new system, individuals must present their birth certificates along with their Aadhaar cards. The birth certificate will serve as the authoritative document for verifying the date of birth.
Aadhaar as Identity Document:
Post the rule change, Aadhaar cards will now function solely as identity documents and will be required for various purposes such as school or college admissions, passport applications, etc.
Background and Motivation:
The rule change stems from the need to address the misuse of Aadhaar cards where individuals were manipulating dates of birth to avail benefits from different schemes, sports competitions, pensions, and admissions.
Difficulty and Questions:
A potential challenge arising from this change is the impact on individuals who lack a birth certificate, especially in scenarios where various schemes and processes are linked to Aadhaar cards.
This may pose difficulties for those without any document certifying their age.
