Uses of Aadhaar Card

The Aadhaar card has a plethora of benefits and the Indian Government is constantly upgrading and expanding the facilities that it provides. It is a vital document that every Indian must possess, although it isn’t mandatory. The Aadhaar Card can help you in the following ways.

Identity Card: It is the most reliable identity card as it contains your photograph as well as your biometric data. The QR code in your Aadhaar can be scanned to verify the authenticity of the data. It is accepted and highly preferred in all government and non-government verification procedures.

Passport in 10 days: If you attach a photocopy of your Aadhaar card while applying for your passport, the passport will be issued and received within 10 days. The police verification process will be done after issuing the passport. This will save your time considerably.

MNREGA Wages: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme was launched in 2005 with an aim to uplift the living conditions of rural residents of India by providing them the wage of at least 100 days a year. The workers or laborers who work under this scheme receive their wages in their bank accounts that are linked to their Aadhaar cards.

Residence Proof: Your Aadhaar Card contains your address and can be used as a proof of residence. This comes in handy when you apply for a home loan or a personal loan by simplifying an otherwise tedious process of document verification.

Government Subsidy: Unless your Aadhaar card is linked with your bank account, you are not eligible to avail government subsidies on products like LPG cylinders, kerosene, rationed grocery as well as government schemes like Pahal and Atal Pension Yojna.

Central Govt Scholarships & NEET exam: The Central Sector Scholarship Scheme can only be availed by students holding an Aadhaar card. Similarly, aspiring doctors must compulsorily provide their Aadhaar number while registering for the NEET entrance exam.

Bank Accounts: Nowadays, opening a bank account has become extremely easy and hassle-free. As you just require Aadhaar card (along with your PAN card, of course) and you are sorted. It also helps immensely whenever you subscribe to any new or additional banking service.

Income Tax: You must have an Aadhaar Card to file for Income tax returns.

Phone Connection: In today’s world of digital expansion, almost every Indian owns a phone connection. Recently, the government announced that telephone connections need to be linked to your Aadhaar card. No Aadhaar card? Well, soon you might have to live without a phone.

e-KYC: KYC, or Know Your Customer is a policy followed by all kinds of service providers where a customer needs to provide relevant documents for the verification of identity and address among other things. Aadhaar is one document that will get you through all KYCs – be it for a Gas Connection, a bank account, a telephone connection or investing in mutual funds.

DigiLocker: Launched in 2015 by the Indian Government, DigiLocker is a secure electronic storage space of 1GB that Indian residents can use for safe-keeping of the electronic versions of their personal documents issued by various Government departments. You require an Aadhaar number to avail this facility.

EPFO Scheme: It is mandatory for all working Indians to have an Aadhaar card in order to avail the Employees’ Provident Fund facility. Pensioners will receive their pension and employees can withdraw their Provident Fund only after submitting their Aadhaar cards.