Aadhaar Card: UIDAI says downloaded versions on ordinary paper, mAadhaar perfectly valid

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been issuing alerts to create awareness among people so that they may not fall prey to unscrupulous elements. In one such statement, issued in February 2018, it had cautioned Aadhaar card holders to shy away from having PVC Aadhaar Smart Card as they may land up in trouble. It very clearly said that "PVC Aadhaar smart cards are often not usable as the QR code often becomes dysfunctional during such unauthorised printing at some vendor/shop," adding that "there could be a possibility of sharing Aadhaar details without informed consent with some devious elements."

According to the UIDAI, your personal sensitive demographic information can be compromised. Therefore, it had reiterated that "Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded versions of Aadhaar on ordinary paper or mAadhaar are perfectly valid and people should not yearn for the so-called Aadhaar smart card." The authority cautioned people that in this process, people may "fall to the ploys of some unscrupulous elements who are printing Aadhaar on a plastic/PVC sheet and charging anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 300 or more."

The UIDAI has cautioned people to keep away from such elements/shops/vendors. Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI had stated, “So-called Aadhaar Smart card is totally unnecessary and a waste as during such printing its QR code often becomes dysfunctional. The Aadhaar card or the downloaded Aadhaar card printed on ordinary paper or mAadhaar is perfectly valid for all kind of uses.” In one tweets on April 27, the UIDAI reiterated its earlier stand and discouraged people for PVC Aadhaar copies.

#AadhaarEssentials
We strongly discourage the use of PVC Aadhaar copies. Your Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar downloaded from https://t.co/O8VS8MPnEi or mAadhaar profile is enough for any Aadhaar related service. Related Press Release: https://t.co/RYFpaayuwz pic.twitter.com/JlZIcm7jai

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) April 27, 2019

Dr Pandey further stated that “If a person has a paper Aadhaar card, there is absolutely no need to get his/her Aadhaar card laminated or obtain a plastic Aadhaar card or smart Aadhaar card by paying money. There is no concept such as smart or plastic Aadhaar card.”

According to the website, if a person loses his Aadhaar card, he/she can download his/her Aadhaar card free of cost from https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. Notably, the print out of the downloaded Aadhaar card, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI. Further, the statement has said that "there is absolutely no need to print it on plastic/PVC card or get it laminated."

People, therefore, had been advised by CEO, UIDAI to be watchful for the protection of their privacy while asking them "not to share their Aadhaar number or personal details to unauthorized agencies for getting it laminated, or printed on plastic card."

Further, UIDAI has also issued instructions to unauthorized agencies not to collect Aadhaar information from general public for printing of Aadhaar card. It said that "collecting such information or unauthorized printing of Aadhaar card or aiding such persons in any manner amounts to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under Indian Penal Code and Aadhaar Act, 2016."