Importance of Aadhar Card and e-KYC Documentation

Author: Shubham Kalje

The Government of India is trying to make Aadhaar Card compulsory for every citizen of the country. From mid-day meal in school to make payment for Income Tax, you have to produce your Aadhaar Card number almost everywhere. Aadhaar Card for every individual comes with a Unique Identity Number or UID. This card is the most authentic source to verify personal details of a person along with address and age information. Right now, there are many government and non-government Aadhaar Centres located all over the country. Although you don’t have to pay anything to get the Aadhaar Card but some private centres are charging for the same.

What is the Purpose of an Aadhaar Card?

The Government of India is planning to build a centralized database through Aadhaar numbers. Primary goal of issuing Aadhaar Card is to eliminate fake and illegal immigrants from the population pool and to make financial transactions transparent. To avail any government scheme or subsidy, your bank account must be linked to your Aadhaar number. Not just adults, children also require Aadhaar Number or Aadhaar Application Number at the time of admission in schools.

In recent times, Aadhaar Card Number is being linked with bank accounts, mobile SIM cards, credit cards and many other services. If you still don’t have the Aadhaar Card, it is time to make one. You will not be able to deal with your bank account unless your account is linked with your Aadhaar Number. Even to avail basic financial services and products such as banking, instant cash loan, credit card, insurance, etc, you need to produce your Aadhaar card.

What is Aadhaar and e-KYC?

Your Aadhaar Card holds your personal as well as demographic details meaning area, location, state and postal code of your address. All this information is stored in a centrally organized database. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is trying to link this information of an individual to the services that the person is willing to avail through digital authentication. As the Aadhaar is based on a digital platform, the government has constructed a corresponding digital platform and named it as Electronic Know Your Customer or e-KYC service.

By availing this e-service, an Aadhaar Card holder can authorise UIDAI to disclose their personal and demographic details including their identity and address information to the service provider in order to get the service. This process of authentication is done through One Time Password or OTP sent to the registered mobile number/e-mail or through biometric scanning of fingers and retina.

How Is The Authentication Done?

  • The Aadhaar Card holder can authorise the UIDAI to release his/her information to the service provider through One Time Password (OTP) or biometrics.

  • After receiving the authentication, UIDAI sends the digital version of the individual’s information to the service provider that the individual has chosen.

  • As all this information is in digital format, there is no need to produce or submit information on paper. This ensures you save your time and energy while the world saves on paper.

  • After receiving information from UIDAI, the service provider gets assured about the authentication of the transaction and genuineness of the customer whom they are offering the service.

What are the benefits of e-KYC?

Thanks to e-KYC, an Aadhaar Card holder can avail the following benefits:

  • e-KYC is a paperless thing. It is completely online in nature and works on digital platforms to eliminate any scope of hardcopy or paperwork.

  • e-KYC offers instant authentication. The moment Aadhaar Card holder authorises UIDAI to release the information to the service provider, UIDAI offers the digital information to the service provider instantly through secure channel. Thus, the customer can skip the waiting period used to be required for verification of physical documents.

  • e-KYC makes things transparent. Thanks to e-KYC, it is impossible to submit forged documents to register for some services. This also makes financial transactions transparent and safe.

  • e-KYC is a non-revocable process. Information derived from UIDAI encompasses Aadhaar Card holder’s digital signature along with UIDAI’s authentication with a unique signature, it is not possible to revoke or repudiate the process by any of the parties involved in the transaction.

  • e-KYC being a paperless platform reduces cost manifold in compared to the conventional paper-based documentation. e-KYC eliminates the scope of producing hard copies of the information, thus making the verification of documents quick and cost effective.

How to Download e-Aadhaar Card Online?

It involves a few simple steps to download your e- Aadhaar Card online. The steps are as follows:

  • You have to first visit the official website of UIDAI.

  • You will see a pop-up window on your screen. There you can find the ‘I Have’ option. You have to choose the ‘Aadhaar’ option then.

  • Now, it is time to enter your Aadhaar Card number along with additional details like full name, pin code, mobile number etc.

  • After filling all the required fields with proper information, you need to press the options to generate One Time Password or OTP.

  • This OTP will be sent via an SMS to your mobile number that you have registered with your Aadhaar Card.

  • You have to enter this OTP in the space provided on the screen to complete the validation.

  • Now choose the ‘Validate and Download’ option and you are ready to download your e-Aadhaar Card.

What Is an Aadhaar Card Password and Why Is It Required?

You can download the e- Aadhaar Card from a PDF file. To maintain your privacy and ensure safety of your data, this PDF file is password protected. The password to open this PDF file is known as Aadhaar Card Password. By entering this Password, it is possible to encrypt the PDF Aadhaar Card file. This password is nothing but the PIN Code that you have entered at the time of applying for Aadhaar Card. Without entering this Password, you will not be able either to open the Aadhaar Card PDF File or to download the e- Aadhaar Card. This password is purely for the security purpose of your e- Aadhaar Card.

To Conclude

Aadhaar Card has become almost compulsory in opening bank accounts, getting mobile SIM card, availing government sponsored schemes/subsidies, getting admission in schools and enrolling for mid-day meals. There are several uses of this document. Its importance in India just makes it much more mandatory for you to have an Aadhaar Card. To get an Aadhaar Card, you need to go to the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centre where your fingers and retina will be scanned. These scanned images will be linked to your Aadhaar Card number later on. So, get the card for yourself soon, if you do not have yet. If you have misplaced this card, you can get a duplicate one made.