Focus: GS-II Governance, Prelims
Why in news?
The government informed the Lok Sabha on 17th March 2020, that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) may issue a show-cause notice on receiving a complaint from “any person” or law enforcement agencies to ascertain if Aadhaar was procured through fraudulent means.
What happens in case of an Allegation?
- UIDAI will issue a show-cause notice under Regulation 29 of the Aadhaar (Enrollment and Update) Regulations, 2016.
- In case the allegation is found to be correct after due inquiry, then the Aadhaar Number is omitted (cancelled) or Deactivated (Suspended).
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- UIDAI is an agency under the central government of India mandated to collect demographic and biometric information of the country’s residents, store the data in a central database, and issue to each resident of the country a 12-digit unique identity number called Aadhaar.
- UIDAI was established as per the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
- The act is also called the Aadhaar Act 2016 in short.
- UIDAI is therefore a Statutory Body.
- It comes under the Electronics & IT ministry.
Aadhaar Act, 2016
- The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016 is a money bill of the Parliament of India.
- It aims to provide legal backing to the Aadhaar unique identification number project.
- It was passed on 11 March 2016 by the Lok Sabha.
Supreme Court on Aadhaar Card
- SC has orally observed that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for availing welfare schemes.
- The Center has declared that Aadhaar card will be mandatory for opening new bank accounts and for transactions above Rs. 50,000. All existing account holders will also have to submit their Aadhaar details by December 31, 2017, failing which accounts will be deemed invalid.
- A five judge bench on December 15, 2017 agreed to the Central government’s decision to extend the deadline of linking of “everything”, including mobile phones and bank accounts, to Aadhaar card till March 31, 2018. But SC also ordered that an Aadhaar card holder opening a new bank account will have to furnish his Aadhaar card to the bank.
