The Unique Identification Authority of India on 4th February 2022, has published the Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2022 to further amend the Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) Regulations, 2021.
Through this amendment, the definition for the term Aadhaar letter, Aadhaar PVC Card, Digital signature and e-aadhar has been notified.
Further under regulation 16B which deals with manner of voluntary use of aadhaar number has been notified as follows:
(1) An Aadhaar number holder may, in accordance with sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Act, voluntarily use the Aadhaar number in physical form, including Aadhaar letter (or copy thereof) or printed e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar PVC Card for a lawful purpose for establishing his identity by way of offline verification and the OVSE shall verify the printed details on Aadhaar letter or printed e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar PVC card with digitally signed Aadhaar Secure QR code12 .
(2) An Aadhar number holder may, in accordance with sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Act, voluntarily use the Aadhaar number in electronic form, including e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC (XML) or m-Aadhaar for a lawful purpose for establishing his identity by way of offline verification and the Offline Verification Seeking Entity shall verify the digital signature.
(3) An Aadhaar number holder may, in accordance with sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Act, voluntarily use the Aadhaar number in electronic form by way of authentication for a lawful purpose for establishing his identity by way of Yes/No or eKYC authentication facility through an authorized requesting entity.”
As per section 4(3) under Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, An Aadhaar number, in physical or electronic form subject to authentication and other conditions, as may be specified by regulations, may be accepted as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder for any purpose.
Further a new regulation 16(c) has been inserted which deals with the conditions for accepting an aadhar as proof of identity of the aadhar number holder.
As per the condition no Offline Verification Seeking Entity shall accept Aadhaar number, in physical or electronic form (without authentication), as a proof of identity for a lawful purpose, without first verifying the digital signature of the Authority as provided in the Aadhaar secure QR Code on Aadhaar Letter or e-Aadhaar or m-Aadhaar or Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC (XML), as the case may be.
