Here are 11 questions answered by UIDAI on Aadhaar

Amid heightened concerns around the collection and storage of personal and demographic data of individuals a series of question and answers were published

Image: Reddit (djanuj90)

NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) posted a series of question and answers in newspapers with the title 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

1. UIDAI has all my data including biometrics, bank account, PAN, etc. Will they be used to track my activities?  Absolutely false. UIDAI database has only the following information - (a) Your name, address, DOB, gender, date of birth (b) Ten finger prints, two IRIS scans, facial photograph (c) mobile number and email ID . Rest assured, UIDAI does not have your information about family, caste, religion, education, bank accounts, shares, mutual funds, financial and property details, health records etc and will never have these information in its database. In fact, Section 32(3) of the Aadhaar Act 2016 specifically prohibits UIDAI from controlling, collecting, keeping or maintaining any information about the purpose of authentication either by itself or through any entity. Image: Reddit (djanuj90)
2. But when I link my bank accounts, shares, mutual funds and my mobile phones with Aadhaar, will UIDAI not get these information?  Absolutely No. When you give Aadhaar number to your banks, mutual fund companies, mobile phone companies, they only send Aadhaar number, your biometrics (given at the time authentication) and your name etc to UIDAI for verification for your identity. They do not send your bank account or its details to UIDAI. So far as UIDAI is concerned, it responds to such verification requests by replying either 'Yes' or 'No'. In few cases, if the verification answer is 'Yes', your basic KYC details (name, address, photo etc) available with UIDAI are sent to the service provider.
3. Can someone hack into my bank account, if they get to know my aadhaar?  Absolutely false. Just like by merely knowing your ATM card number, no one can withdraw money from the ATM machine, by knowing your Aadhaar number alone, no one can hack into your bank account and withdraw money. Your bank account is safe if you don't part with your PIN/OTP given by banks. Rest assured, there has not been a single case of financial loss due to Aadhaar. ALSO READ: Bikinis allowed in Goa because of Opinion Poll: Deputy Speaker
4. Why am I being asked to link all my bank accounts with Aadhaar?  For your own security, it is necessary to verify identity of all bank account holders and link them with Aadhaar to weed out the accounts being operated by fraudsters, money-launderers, criminals etc. When every bank account is verified and linked with Aadhaar and then If anyone fraudulently withdraws money from your account, through Aadhaar such fraudster can easily be located and punished. Therefore, by linking your bank accounts with Aadhaar, your accounts becomes more secure and not the other way around.
5. Why am I being asked to verify and link my mobile numbers with Aadhaar?  For your own security and security of our country, it is necessary to verify identity of all mobile subscribers and link them with Aadhaar to weed out mobile numbers being operated by fraudsters, money-launderers, criminals etc. It has been found that most criminals and terrorists get SIM cards issued in the name of fictitious and even real people without their knowledge and use them for committing frauds and crime. When every mobile number is verified and linked with Aadhaar, then fraudsters, criminals, and terrorists using mobiles can be easily identified and punished in accordance with law.
6. Can the mobile company store my biometrics taken at the time of SIM verification and use it for other purposes later?  No one, including, mobile phone companies can store or use your biometrics taken at the time of Aadhaar verification. The biometrics are encrypted as soon as Aadhaar holder places his finger on fingerprint sensor and this encrypted data is sent to UIDAI for verification. Regulation 17(1)(a) of the Aadhaar (Authentication) Regulations 2016, strictly prohibits any requesting entity which includes mobile phone companies, banks etc from storing, sharing or publishing the finger-prints for any reason whatsoever and neither shall it retain any copy of such fingerprints. Any violation of this provision is a punishable offence under the Aadhaar Act 2016.
7. Do NRIs need Aadhaar for banking, mobile, PAN and other services?  Aadhaar is only for residents of India. NRIs are not eligible to get Aadhaar. The respective service providers like banks and mobile companies have laid down NRI-specific exemptions. NRIs should simply tell the banks and other service providers such as credit card companies etc that they are not required to provide Aadhaar numbers by virtue of being non-resident Indians.
8. Aren't the poor being denied essential services like pension & rations for want of Aadhaar?  No. It is clearly mentioned in Section 7 that until a person is assigned an Aadhaar number, he/she cannot be denied rations or pensions or such other entitlements for want of Aadhaar and the concerned department should verify the identity of the person using alternate means of identification as per the relevant notification. If any government official of a department denies the benefits or services for lack of Aadhaar or failure of verification for technical reasons contrary to the relevant notification, a complaint should be lodged against the higher authorities of those departments for such unlawful denials.
9. Some agencies are not accepting eAadhaar. They insist on original Aadhaar. Why?  eAadhaar (downloaded Aadhaar) from UIDAI website is as legally valid as original Aadhaar issued by UIDAI . Both should be acceptable by all Agencies. In fact downloaded e-Aadhaar has updated address etc of the Aadhaar holders and therefore should be preferable. If anyone refuses to accept downloaded e-Aadhaar, the Aadhaar holder may lodge complaints with higher authorities of those departments/ agencies.
10. How has Aadhaar benefited the common man?  Aadhaar has benefited a common person in innumerable ways. Foremost is with a credible identity. Aadhaar has empowered 119 crore Indians with a credible identity. Today the fact is that Aadhaar inspires more confidence and trust than any other identity document in India. For example, if you are an employer, which identity document will you prefer from your prospective employees? Or, just ask your maid servant, household help, driver, poor living in slums and villages as to how they are using Aadhaar to prove their identity to get jobs, open bank accounts, for rail travel, and to get various entitlements and government benefits directly into their bank accounts without middlemen. Ask them and they will tell you how empowered they are by having Aadhaar.
11. We keep hearing in media that Aadhaar data was breached. Is it true? Aadhaar database has never been breached during the last 7 years of its existence. Data of all Aadhaar holders is safe and secure. Stories around Aadhaar data breach are mostly cases of mis-reporting. UIDAI uses advanced security technologies to keep your data safe and secure and keeps upgrading them to meet emerging security threats and challenges.