Aadhaar Card(आधार कार्ड): Apply, Download, Status, UIDAI Services

Every individual in India irrespective of their gender or age is eligible to get an Aadhaar card but with an approved verification by the UIDAI. This article presents every detail about the Aadhaar Card that you should be aware of as a citizen of India.

In India, any citizen with a complete Aadhaar UIDAI verification can enrol for Aadhaar without paying any fee. Though individuals can enrol once for their Aadhaar card, in case of more than one enrolment, the Aadhaar card is linked with one enrolment ID while others are discarded as a duplicate. This identity proof is unique for each individual and comes with lifetime validity. It provides individuals with access to mobile connections, banking services, and multiple government-offered services.

To get to know Aadhar, its enrolment, linking, status, updates, and other aspects associated with it, have a look at the below-mentioned information.

What is Aadhaar?

The Union Identification Authority of India issues a 12-digit unique identification number to the individuals of India on behalf of the Government of India. With an Aadhaar Card, you can be secure of your identification proof across the country. You can easily get an Aadhaar Card via post or download your e-Aadhaar by visiting the official UIDAI website. Below are a few pointers about Aadhar for your information.

Aadhaar Card – Key Features

• An identification number for every individual including infants and children comprising 12 digits.
• Based on the biometric and demographic data, the unique individuality is identified.
• Every citizen can get an Aadhaar card without worrying about the current documentation.
• UIDAI is responsible for answering the queries related to the Aadhaar card.

Now that you are aware of the features associated with Aadhar, it’s time to know what importance it holds for you as a citizen of India.

Aadhaar Card – Importance

Serves as a proof of identity – You would be amazed to know that the Aadhaar card was not developed with a specific motive in mind, unlike the voter ID which is for making an individual eligible for participating in the elections of India. However, it can now be used for various purposes and is globally recognised as an identification card issued by the government.

To avail any subsidy – With an Aadhaar card, an individual gets the liberty to avail every subsidy for which they are eligible and which is issued by the government. Note that the government has enough data about every individual. Hence, presenting the Aadhaar card would suffice for availing the subsidies.

Easily Available– Aadhaar is available throughout the country and it is the only government-issued identification card with such a feature. One can apply for an online Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar and download it. This copy of Aadhar can be accessed and used anywhere.

Passport Acquisition– Every citizen would agree that acquisition of a passport is a hard nut to crack but not any longer because of Aadhaar! The new and refined uses of Aadhaar have made the process of obtaining a passport much more facile while relieving the applicant from the required hustle.

To Open a Bank Account– Aadhaar is quite helpful for carrying out the process of identification, aadhaar verification, and aadhaar eKYC for opening a bank account. Every bank and financial institution in India regards Aadhar as a rigid proof of address and identity which is required for opening a bank account.

Digital Life Certificate – It was the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who came up with the Digital Life Certificate or the Jeevan Pramaan for Pensioners. The objective of this document was to cut down on the need for the physical presence of the pensioner for availing the pension of the related schemes. Thus, the pensioners were relieved from visiting several offices as their details can be accessed by the agencies merely by entering the Aadhaar number.

Jan Dhan Yojna – For availing the benefits of Jan Dhan Yojna, all you need is the Aadhar Card, and it will be sufficient for opening the bank account. People living in rural areas have the maximum benefit of this scheme and they can now access the perks easily only by presenting the Aadhaar card.

Accessing the Provident Funds – People who have linked their Aadhaar card with their PF accounts can get the funds disbursed straight into their bank account through the PF organisation.

The question that arises now is what are the details that are mentioned on the Aadhaar card. We are on it, have a look!

Details on the UIDAI Aadhaar Card

The Aadhaar card contains the basic and necessary information about an individual, some of which are imprinted on the card, and others are stored in the database and the QR code given on the card. The information stored in the QR code can only be accessed by the authorised medium. 

Here’s what Aadhaar card has imprinted on it:

• Name 
• Date of Birth
• House Address
• Photograph
• Gender
• 12-digit Aadhaar number
• QR Code

Note: The IRIS scan and fingerprints are stored in the database and can be accessed through the QR code but only through the authorised mediums.

The QR Code on Aadhaar Card

The QR code present on the Aadhar Card is the code that has all the demographic data and photographs of an individual which is signed digitally by the UIDAI.

What Makes an Individual Eligible for an Aadhaar Card?

For Indian Citizens – According to the Aadhaar Act of 2016, only an Indian resident who has been staying in the country for 182 or more days in 12 months is from the date of enrolment.

For Minors – A UIDAI Aadhar card is being issued by the authority which is named as the Bal Aadhar or Blue Colour Aadhaar which is for children aged up to 5 years. When children cross the age of 5 years, they need to get their biometric and demographic data updated by visiting the Aadhaar enrolment centre.

For Foreigners – If a foreigner has completed the stay stated in the Aadhaar Act of 2016,  they become eligible to enrol for the Aadhaar Card.

If you are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar, here how you can do that and check the status of the same but first let’s delve into what is the Aadhaar Enrolment Form.

Aadhaar Enrolment Form

It is a free form and is voluntary for the individuals which means you do not have to pay any charges for getting the enrolling form for Aadhaar. If your information needs modification, you will only have to provide your name, UID, and the details of the field which has to be corrected. The correction through the form will be done within 96hours.

Aadhar Card: Enrolment Procedure

• Go to the centre dedicated to Aadhar enrolment
• Fill in the enrolment form correctly
• Submit your biometrics and demographic data
• Present your proof of address and proof of identity
• You will receive an enrolment slip that has your enrolment number.

If you find it difficult to locate the Aadhaar centre in Tier 1 cities, you can visit the UIDAI website and locate it there. After enrolling, you can easily check the status of your application by following the steps given below.

Checking Your Aadhaar Card Status

It’s quite simple to check your Aadhar card status if you have access to the Internet. All you need to do is visit the official UIDAI website and follow the steps which are present below:

• Visit the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in 

• Click on the option Check Aadhaar Status

• Enter the enrolment number given on the slip that you got at the time of enrolment.

• Fill in the time and date in hh:mm: ss and dd/mm/yyyy format respectively.
• Fill in the security code
• In case you are unable to view or click, click on Try Another
• Finally, click on the tab of Check Status

You will have the updated status of your Aadhar displayed on the screen. There is also a way to check your UIDAI Aadhaar Card status by using your phone number. Here’s how you can do it.

Check Aadhaar Status Using Your Mobile Number

Before proceeding with the steps, you need to keep into consideration the following two conditions for getting your Aadhaar status via mobile number:

1. You can go for the verification of the mobile number that is used at the time of enrolment or the one for which the update request has been successfully processed.
2. To avail the online Aadhaar services, you need to use only the registered phone number. If you have not registered your phone number, visit the nearest Permanent Aadhaar Centre to do so.

Let’s move to the steps for checking your Aadhaar card status using your mobile number:

• Go to the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in
• Fill in the email id and 12-digit UID
• Proceed by filling the security code
• You will receive an OTP on your registered phone number
• Fill in the received OTP and have your Aadhaar status displayed on the screen.

You can also receive the status of your Aadhaar by calling the Aadhaar toll-free number mentioned in the given step:

You need to give a call on 1800-300-1947 and keep the enrolment ID, registered mobile number, enrolment time and date mentioned on the slip handy for proceeding with the IVR instructions.

Don’t Miss Out!

Latest Documents on Aadhaar Card

If you want to get any modifications done to your Aadhaar details, you need to fill and submit an Aadhaar correction form. Be it a name, date of birth, address, or mobile number, all of it will be modified only after filling the form but the address can also be updated through the UIDAI website.

Procedure to update your details on Aadhaar Card

How to update your address on the Aadhar Card?

• Go to the Aadhar Self Service portal which is ssup[dot]uidai[dot]gov[dot]in/ssup/
• Select the option of ‘Proceed to update address’ if you have a proof of address handy
• If you cannot access a proof of address, you can enter the 12-digit Aadhar number and captcha to log in
• Proceed by clicking the option of ‘Send OTP’ and this OTP will be received only on your registered mobile number
• In addition, you can choose the TOTP feature for the process of authentication
• Click on the Login tab
• Select the option of either ‘Update Address via Address Proof’ or ‘Update Address via Secret Code’
• Enter all the details correctly and type in your full address
• You will have to upload the coloured copy of your POA documents
• Go for the preview options to double-check the information that you have filled
• Click on Submit. Take a note of the Update Request Number because this will assist you in checking the status of your request

Note: If you have any issues related to the PIN code or other issues regarding the area, you can connect with UIDAI through help@uidai[dot]gov[dot]in Also, if you need the addition of your parent, guardian, or spouse, go to the option of Address Correction and under the C/o section, mention their details. The details will be updated as a part of address correction.

How to change or update your name on the Aadhaar Card?

• Go to the Aadhar Update or Enrolment centre
• You will be given an Aadhar Update form which you need to fill correctly
• Fill in the current phone number in the form
• The request for correction will be updated at the Aadhaar Correction centre
• You will get a slip that will have the URN number
• A nominal fee of INR 50 will be charged for correction

How to change your mobile number on your Aadhaar Card?

• Go to the Aadhar Update or Enrolment centre
• You will be given an Aadhar Update form which you need to fill correctly
• Fill in the current phone number in the form. It is not required to fill in your previous number
• The request for correction will be updated at the Aadhaar Correction centre
• You will get a slip that will have the URN number
• A nominal fee of INR 50 will be charged for correction

How to update your Date of Birth on the Aadhaar Card?

• Go to any of the nearby Aadhaar Enrolment centre.
• Fill in your date of birth in the Aadhar Update form
• You need to present proof of your date of birth with the form
• Give your biometrics for the process of identity verification
• The executive at the centre will hand over a slip with URN mentioned on it
• You need to pay INR 50 for the correction and the URN can be used for checking the status of your application.
• Within 90 days, your DOB will be updated on the Aadhar Card.

The process of correction is now known to you, but there are ways by which you can download the online Aadhaar card for use till you get the physical copy. Let’s have some information on how it is done.

Download Aadhaar Card with Your Aadhaar Number

• Go to the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in

• Select the My Aadhaar option and click on Download Aadhaar

• Choose the option of Aadhaar Number
• Fill in the 12-digit Aadhaar number and security code. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number
• If you want to download the Masked Aadhaar, select Masked Aadhaar
• Fill in the OTP and click on the option of Verify and Download
• When the verification is complete, you will have a PDF downloaded in your download folder. The file will be password protected and the password will be the first 4 letters of your name in caps and the year of your birth in yyyy form.

Download e-Aadhaar with Virtual ID

The UIDAI portal has recently added this feature of getting your Aadhaar downloaded using the Aadhaar virtual ID. Follow these steps to get Aadhar Card downloaded using the VID:

• Go to the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in
• Choose the My Aadhaar option and click on Download Aadhaar
• Choose the option of VID
• Fill in the virtual ID and security code. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number
• Enter the OTP and you will have the downloaded e-Aadhaar which can be accessed using the 8-character password which is the combination of the first 4 letters of your name in caps and the year of your birth in yyyy format.

Get e-Aadhaar Using Your Enrolment Number

• Go to the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in.
• Choose the My Aadhaar option and click on Download Aadhaar.

• Choose the option of Enrolment Number.
• Fill in the 12-digit enrolment number and security code. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.
• Fill in the OTP and click on the option of Verify and Download.
• You will have the downloaded e-Aadhar on your system.

Download Aadhaar Card with Your Name and DOB

• Go to the official UIDAI website which is uidai[dot]gov[dot]in

• Select My Aadhaar option and click on Aadhaar services
• Proceed by clicking on Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID

• Select the option of Aadhar Number

• Fill in your full name, mobile number or email address, and captcha
• Click on send OTP
• Enter the OTP and select Verify OTP
• You will have a message displayed on the screen which says that the Aadhar number has been sent to the registered mobile number
• Post receiving the Aadhaar number, you can go the option of Download Aadhar and fill in the details to get your e-Aadhaar

Get Aadhaar Card Using Umang App

• Download the Umang App from the play store or Apple App Store
• Go to the All Services option and click on Aadhaar Card
• Select the option of ‘View Aadhaar Card from DigiLocker’
• You can either use your Aadhaar number or DigiLocker Account to log in
• After clicking on login, you will receive an OTP on the registered phone number
• Fill in the OTP and click on ‘Verify OTP’
• Click on the download tab to get your Aadhaar card downloaded on the system

In India having an Aadhar Card is quite important but what is equally important is linking it to the ITR, bank accounts, PAN card, and voter ID to avail the ease and benefits associated with it. But the question is, how can you do so? Follow the procedures given below to get your Aadhaar linked to the ITRs, bank accounts, PAN card, and voter ID.

Link PAN with Aadhaar Card via E-filing Website

• Go to the official income tax website is www[dot]incometax[dot]gov[dot]in
• Enter your PAN number, Aadhaar number, and name as it is mentioned on the Aadhaar card
• Check the box if you have your birth year mentioned on the Aadhaar Card
• Check the box stating ‘I agree to validate my Aadhar details’

Link PAN with Aadhaar Card via SMS

• Go to the SMS app on your phone
• Type in your <12-digit Aadhaar Number><10-character PAN number>
• Send the SMS to 56161 or 567678

Link Aadhaar Card to Your Mobile Number

Online Method

• Go to the official website of your registered telecom operator
• Fill in the mobile number which is verified or needs re-verification with your Aadhaar
• You will receive an OTP on the mentioned number
• Fill in the OTP and proceed by clicking on Submit
• The screen will show a consent message followed by a prompt to enter your 12-digit Aadhaar card number
• Your telecom operator will send a message for the purpose of OTP generation
• You will receive an SMS that will ask your consent for the details of aadhaar e-KYC
• Accept the terms and conditions and fill in the OTP
• You will receive a confirmation message for the re-verification of your Aadhaar and phone number

Offline Method

SIM card and Aadhaar card verification via SMS by receiving an OTP.

With this method, you will have to visit the store for the re-verification of your mobile number, and you will have to share the OTP. Follow the steps to get your SIM card registered with the Aadhaar Card:

• Go to the nearest store of your registered telecom partner
• Give a self-attested copy of your Aadhaar
• Submit the details of your Aadhaar and mobile number to the store executive
• Choose the application of re-verification. Post this an OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number
• Provide the OTP to the executive and submit your biometrics
• Within 24 hours, you will get an SMS for confirmation. Reply with Y to complete the process of KYC.

Link Aadhaar Card with Mobile Number through IVR

To help the telecom subscribers, the Government of India came up with a single number that can be used for linking the Aadhaar card with mobile. All the postpaid and prepaid subscribers can access this service by following the steps given below:

• From your phone, dial 14546
• You need to verify whether you are an NRI or an Indian citizen. You will have to press 1 for Indian Citizen and re-verification of your Aadhaar
• Type in your 12-digit Aadhaar Number
• Next, you need to type the mobile number for receiving the OTP
• You will be asked for giving consent to verify your DOB, name, and Aadhaar photo from the database of UIDAI
• Type in the OTP received on the phone
• You will be asked to press 1 for completing the re-verification process

Link Bank Account with Aadhaar through the Bank’s Application

The facility of linking your bank account with Aadhar has now been made easier with the banks providing this feature in their application. Here’s how you can do it:

• Enter your login credentials in the bank’s application
• Go to the Services tab and click on My Account
• Choose the option of View/Update Aadhaar Card Details
• Further, you need to fill in your Aadhaar number two times and proceed by clicking Submit
• You will receive a message stating that your bank account has been successfully linked with your Aadhaar card

Linking of a Bank Account with Aadhaar through the Bank Branch

• Visit the nearest branch of your bank.
• Fill in the Aadhaar application form which is available on the bank’s website, and you can print it. If it is not available on the website, you can directly reach out to the bank and get it there.
• Fill in your Aadhaar number and bank account details correctly.
• You need to attach a copy of your Aadhaar card which needs to be self-attested.
• Submit both the form and the Aadhar copy at the bank, and you also need to present your original Aadhaar for the process of verification.
• The application will be submitted and in a few days, your Aadhaar card will be linked to your bank account. The completion will be notified to you via message on your registered number.

Link Aadhaar to Your Voter ID through the NVSP Portal

The National Voter Service Portal is where you can link your voter ID to the Aadhaar Card. You need to visit the official NVSP website and follow the steps given below to do so:

Fill in your details like the district, state, personal details such as DOB, father’s name, and your name

Post filling the details click on the search button. If the details you have provided as verified by the government database, you will have them displayed on the screen

Select the ‘Feed Aadhaar No.’ option which will be on the left of the screen

Further, a page asking to fill in your name as on the Aadhaar card, Aadhaar number, registered phone number, voter ID, and email id will appear. Fill in all these details correctly

Click on the Submit button

You will receive a message on the screen stating that your application for linking Aadhaar with the voter ID has been registered

Link Aadhaar to Your Voter ID through SMS

You need to send an SMS to 51969 or 166 in the given format- <VOTER ID NUMBER><AADHAAR_NUMBER>

Link Aadhaar Card with Income Tax Returns

• Go to the website incometaxindiafiling[dot]gov[dot]in

• Use the password and username to login
• On the homepage, select the option of Profile Settings
• Go with the option of Link Aadhaar
• Fill in your Aadhaar details
• Select the option of Link Now
• Verify the details of your Aadhaar Card with the PAN information
• From the options given below, choose one:

1. If you already have an EVC and want to submit an EVC.
2. If you do not have an EVC and want to generate an EVC
3. If you want to generate Aadhaar OTP to e-verify your return
4. If you want to e-verify later on and want to send ITR-V

• If you are a taxpayer, go with option 3 and after selecting this option, an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number
• For the e-verification of the return, you need to use the OTP
• Your screen will display ‘Return Successfully e-verified. Download the acknowledgement’

We hope that this article will resolve all your queries about the Aadhaar Card leading to a smooth process of enrolling, updating and linking your Aadhaar Card.

Aadhar Card Latest Update:

Police Confirms Data Leaked from Telecom Firms, Vehicle Portals and not by UIDAI (Dec 5, 2022)

The Crime Branch official releases information just a few days after they busted a racket supplying private data of individuals in exchange for money. The information states that the data was leaked from a telecom company and vehicle portal. UIDAI didn’t leak any such data from their end. They further said that a few other sources were also involved in the data leakage, and the Crime Branch also arrested two more accused.

Why it is Salient to Update your Aadhaar Card Once in Five Years (Nov 3, 2022)

An Aadhaar cardholder is expected to update their Aadhaar card once in five years. The reason behind it is an ample number of government-provided applications including driving licenses extract information from an Aadhaar card as soon as the executive enters your 12-digit unique identification code. In case, the information is outdated and during the time of verification, your application may get rejected. This is why it is recommended to update your Aadhaar card to carry out the procedure without obstruction.

Get Your Child’s Aadhar Only with Birth Certificate, Available Countrywide (Oct 17, 2022)

The Indian Government has made it easy for parents to get their child’s Aadhaar Card only with the birth certificate. They are required to furnish the original certificate to the UIDAI and submit the required information. This Aadhaar facility is available throughout India and can be availed through their UIDAI portal as well.

Name and Date of Birth Changes in Aadhaar Cards

An Aadhaar card is a 12 digit number granted by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to all Indian inhabitants. Moreover, the card number is issued to Indian citizens only once in their entire life. The card consists of details about an individual, such as address, date of birth, age, and gender. However, if any details are filled incorrectly in the Aadhar card, then they can be modified. But the UIDAI has set limitations on changing names and dates of birth. As per UIDAI, an Aadhaar holder can modify their name and date of birth only twice in their entire life.

FAQ’s about Aadhaar Card