Aadhaar Myths Debunked: Know Facts About Aadhaar

Aadhaar can be used as a permanent financial address that allows the underprivileged parts of society to be financially included. One of the main pillars of 'Digital India' is the Aadhaar identity portal, where a unique identity is granted to every citizen of the country.
With its inherent features of uniqueness, verification, financial address and e-KYC, the Aadhaar identification portal helps the Government of India to meet the country's citizens directly in the distribution of various incentives, rewards and facilities by using only the Aadhaar number of the resident.

This is the first initiative of its kind, in which a state-of-the-art digital and online ID is delivered free of cost to individuals on such a large scale, and has the ability to transform the way service delivery operates in the country.

Here are some of the interesting myths and facts of Aadhaar:

Myth 1- Will UIDAI track the activities of the Aadhaar member?

No, the UIDAI database has just the minimum amount of information you provide at the time of registration or upgrade. UIDAI does not have details of your bank account numbers, bonds, mutual funds, financial and property particulars, etc., and this data will never be in its database.

Under the Aadhaar Act, UIDAI is strictly prohibited from regulating, gathering, storing or holding any information relating to the purpose of authentication, either by itself or by any person. Aadhaar is an identifier, not an instrument for profiling.

Myth 2 - When I link my bank accounts, will UIDAI get my details?

Absolutely No. If you give your banks, mutual fund firms, cell phone companies the Aadhaar number, they just send your Aadhaar number, biometrics and your name to UIDAI for your identity verification. They do not give the specifics of your bank account to UIDAI.

Myth 3- Can someone hack into my bank account if they get to know my Aadhaar number?

Your bank account is protected if you do not share your PIN/OTP issued by banks with others. Aadhaar numbers solely cannot be used for banking or other services. Just as no one can withdraw money from the ATM system by simply knowing your ATM number, similarly no one can break into your bank account and withdraw money by knowing your Aadhaar number alone.

Myth 4- We keep hearing in media that Aadhaar data was breached. Is this true?

In the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) of UIDAI, the data of all Aadhaar holders is protected and secured. When it comes to confidential user information like Aadhaar, UIDAI works closely with all user organizations to strengthen data protection initiatives.

Earlier, some organizations have released their user data on their websites, including Aadhaar info, in order to meet disclosure protocols. UIDAI has taken the necessary steps to eliminate this and has also sensitized the matter to all relevant organizations and agencies.

Myth 5 - NRIs are not allowed to have an Aadhaar number.

NRIs are now qualified to apply for Aadhaar. The Indian Passport is a required proof of identity for NRIs for Aadhaar enrollment. If the respective service providers, such as banks, telecom service, the Income Tax Department, have regulations mandating Aadhaar-based authentication for their customers, then NRIs would also need to comply with the specified laws.

Myth 6 - Is it mandatory to link my bank account with Aadhaar?

If you want to receive any incentives or discounts under any scheme notified under section 7 of the Aadhaar, it is mandatory to link the Aadhaar number to the banking service provider. However, if you do not wish to apply to Aadhaar, you can use any other officially legitimate documents as recommended by the Reserve Bank of India. Note, it's optional to link your bank account to Aadhaar in this situation.

Myth 7- eAadhaar, Aadhaar Letter or mAadhaar Profile won't work as originals!

If an official or department refuses to accept the downloaded eAadhaar, the holder of the Aadhaar can lodge a complaint with the authorities concerned of those departments/agencies.

Myth 8 - Aadhaar number is mandatory for a mobile SIM card

No, It is not mandatory to submit your Aadhaar number to get a cell phone connection. You can submit another valid ID and address for the same.

Myth 9: People can use fake Aadhaar cards

It is incorrect to believe that the authorities depend solely on Aadhaar to grant access to all kinds of services. If an entity uses Aadhaar, this does not imply that other required verifications must be given up. If he used his Aadhaar, identifying the culprits and conspirators, taking them to justice, and prosecuting their crime will be easier for investigators. If the guy had used his fake ration card, it would be even more difficult for the authorities to find him.

Myth 10: Aadhaar has a poorly verified database.

Aadhaar registration is carried out through registrars, reputable institutions such as state government, banks, Common Service Centres (CSCs) that hire UIDAII-empanelled enrollment agencies.