A 5-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the flagship Aadhaar scheme . The apex court in its judgment has listed out a host of services for which linking of Aadhaar is not mandatory. Here is a ready reckoner on what needs to be linked to Aadhaar and what not:
WHAT NEEDS AADHAAR LINKING:
1) It is mandatory to link PAN card with Aadhaar
2) Aadhaar is a must for filing income tax returns
3) Aadhaar is necessary for availing welfare schemes and subsidies given by the government
aadhar
AADHAAR NOT NEEDED FOR THESE SERVICES...
1) Aadhaar data is not needed for opening a bank account as the SC on Wednesday struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act which allowed private companies to avail Aadhaar data
2) With the SC striking down Section 57 other private entities like telecom and e-commerce firms are now barred from asking for Aadhaar. So, Aadhaar is not needed to get a SIM card or shopping online
3) Aadhaar is not needed for admission in schools adding that no child can be denied benefits of any schemes on not being able to bring Aadhaar..
4) Aadhaar no more compulsory to appear in CBSE, UGC and NEET examinations
While upholding the constitutional validity of Aadhaar scheme, the Supreme Court has ruled that Aadhaar Act doesn’t violate your right to privacy when you agree to share biometric data. Private entities have been barred from using Aadhaar card for KYC authentication purposes but you will still need Aadhaar for various other purposes including PAN card and ITR filing. The government has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling with finance minister Arun Jaitley saying that the use of Aadhaar has helped the government save Rs 90,000 crore in a year through targeting of beneficiaries and plugging leakages.
