If not, get your card

Aadhaar program was launched in 2009 with a main objective to give universal identity to every Resident Indian. However, in the initial stages of enrolment people faced lot of difficulties. Later it was unclear about the Importance. Now it is all set and clear, more than one billion people hold Aadhar Card. It may also help in reducing the corruption.

Benefits of Aadhaar Card

1. Aadhar based Direct Benefit Transfer (LPG Subsidy): The 12-digit individual identification number on Aadhar card is used to get LPG subsidy amount directly in the bank account.

2. Jan Dhan Yojana: The Guinness world record holder scheme Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accepts Aadhaar card as the only document sufficient to open the bank account. The benefits offered are RuPay card; free zero balance savings accounts, life and accident insurance and many others.

3. Passport in 10 days: This benefit of Aadhaar card will relieve you the most! If you have an Aadhaar card, you can get passport in just 10 days.

4. Digital Locker: Government of India has launched digital locker (DigiLocker) system for everyone for storing all personal documents on the government’s server. And sign-up process for DigiLocker requires person to link his/her 12 digit Aadhaar card number.

5. Voter Card Linking: Starting 9th March 2015, Aadhaar card UIDAI number would be linked to the voter ID’s. This action is taken to eliminate bogus voters.

6. Monthly Pension: All the pensioners from select states will now have to register their Aadhaar card number to their respective department in order to receive monthly pension. This move was initiated as there have been fraudulent incidents as beneficiaries requesting pension were found to be fake.

7. Provident Fund: Similar to pension, provident fund money will be given to the account holder who’ve registered their Aadhaar number with employee provident fund organization (EPFO).

8. Opening new bank account: Aadhaar letter provided by UIDAI is now acceptable by banks as a valid proof to open bank account. In fact, it can serve as an address proof as well provided address on Aadhaar card and address proof perfectly matches.

9. Digital Life Certificate: Aadhaar linked digital life certificate is another initiative which was launched by Department of Electronics and IT. Named as “Jeevan Praman for Pensioners”, this system will end the process where pensioner had to be physically present at Pension Disbursing Agency to avail pension. Instead all the details of pensioner will be accessed digitally by the agency.

10. SEBI: It is now accepted as a proof of address by Securities and Exchange board of India for investing in stock market. Till now, it was used by SEBI as identity proof.

It is believed that the card will further be given more importance as more and more government schemes are being launched requiring it as a mandatory document.