Benefits of Aadhaar Card

Why is it important to have Aadhaar

Aadhaar program was launched with a main objective to provide universal identity to every Indian resident. People can now get the card with much ease as its acceptance as a mandatory document for various initiatives has been officially made. In addition to this it will help in reducing the corruption since every individual carries only one unique number.

Considering the increasing acceptance of Aadhaar card it is must for everyone to get it issued. 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.

Most important benefits of Aadhaar

Listed below are the most important benefits of Aadhaar (12 digit unique identity number).

1. Aadhaar 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. This DBTL scheme is named as PAHAL. To get this benefit you need to visit your area’s distributor and get Aadhar number linked to the 17 digit LPG consumer number. Although now you can get direct benefit transfer by linking bank account to the LPG number.
2. Jan Dhan Yojana : Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accepts Aadhaar card/number as the only document sufficient to open the bank account. Although you can open PMJDY account after producing other documents as well. The benefits offered are RuPay card, free zero balance savings account, 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. Under this format, police verification will be done at a later date as opposed to the previous rule requiring police verification which used to be time consuming. Also under the new government’s rule, if you need a passport, Aadhaar number is compulsory.
4. Digital Locker : Government of India has launched digital locker (DigiLocker) system for everyone for storing all personal document 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 number has been linked to the voter ID’s. This action is taken to eliminate bogus voters. Once an Aadhaar number is linked, it would become impossible for a voter to have multiple voter ID cards. It's illegal use is also curbed, as registration requires voter ID card holder to be physically present and produce Aadhaar card to the polling booth officer for linking.
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 to avoid fraudulent incidents of fake beneficiaries.
7. Provident Fund : Similar to pension, Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made Aadhaar the mandatory identification proof for all workers from the organised and unorganised sectors to avail of social security benefits.
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 both as an address and identity proof, hence avoiding the need to produce bunch of documents to the banks for opening an account.
9. Digital Life Certificate : Aadhaar linked digital life certificate is another initiative which was launched by Ministry 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 renew his / her life certificate. Instead all the details of pensioner will be accessed digitally by the agency.
10. SEBI : It is now accepted as a proof of address and identity by Securities and Exchange Board of India for investing in stock market.
11. Mobile number : All existing mobile subscribers (prepaid and postpaid) are required to link Aadhaar to their mobile number. All new connections will require Aadhaar linking.
12. Driving license : To make Aadhaar, a digital identity, very soon driving license is planned to be linked to Aadhaar number. The objective of doing this is to check prevalence of multiple license.
13. PAN card and IT return: This is considered to be the best step to curb black money. Linking of PAN card with Aadhaar has been made mandatory.  The deadline for linking PAN and Aadhaar has been extended to 30th June 2023.
14. Investments : Submitting Aadhaar to financial institutions is mandatory where you are doing mutual fund and other investments.
15. Existing bank account holders : Account holders are to provide Aadhaar to the banks where they hold account six months from the date of commencement of bank account.
16. Book Upto 12 tickets in IRCTC website in a month by linking Aadhaar : Now users are allowed to book upto 12 tickets in a month, if users get themselves verified through their Aadhaar number along with at least one passenger also being verified through Aadhaar. However, No Aadhaar Verification required for booking up to 8 tickets in a month. To know how the process, click here.
17. Is a valid proof for booking COVID vaccination 
18. Create Your Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) using Aadhaar. Any citizen/patient can create the Ayushmaan Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Number using Aadhaar. ABHA account, similar to a bank account number, is a randomly generated 14 digit number used for the purposes of uniquely identifying persons and authenticating them, and linking their health records across multiple systems and stakeholders. To know how the process, click here

Source : Portal Team