“Aadhaar card should be freely used for proving identity and doing transactions, but should not be put on public platforms like Twitter, Facebook, etc. Those who have a PAN need to link it with their Aadhaar as a precaution against misuse. It is also mandatory for getting a Permanent Account Number or fi ling income tax returns. Nonetheless, ration and pension cannot be denied for want of Aadhaar.

But you need it for direct transfer of benefits and government subsidies to your account. It is not mandatory even for school admissions and exams. So, a bank or a mobile company cannot insist on Aadhaar. When Is Aadhaar A Mandatory ID Proof? The Supreme Court has barred private entities from using Aadhaar for know your-customer (KYC) authentication. While the now-withdrawn advisory from the Unique Identification Authority of India’s Bengaluru office had warned about the flip side of sharing photocopies, Aadhaar has several built-in features to protect you against possible misuse. And people have freely handed out Aadhaar photocopies without realising they can be misused, just as any other photocopy of an ID document – passport, driving licence – can be misused. From hotels and hospitals to telecom firms, banks, schools, and employers, everyone wants a copy of your Aadhaar as identity proof.

Aadhaar soft copy