Unique Identification Authority of India has issued a notification amending the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016. The Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Second Amendment Regulations, 2024 introduce crucial changes affecting enrolment, updates, and cases requiring Aadhaar number omission.
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 25th January, 2024
F. No. HQ-16016/1/2023-EU-I-HQ (E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 54 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016), the Unique Identification Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations to further amend the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, namely:—
1. Short title and commencement.—(1) These regulations may be called the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Second Amendment Regulations, 2024.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the principal regulations),—
(a) for the word “a resident”, the words “an Aadhaar number holder” shall be substituted in clause (b) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2;
(b) for the word “residents and updating their information”, the words “individuals seeking to enrol and updating information of Aadhaar number holders” shall be substituted in clause (i) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2;
(c) for the word “residents” wherever it occurs, the words “individuals seeking to enrol” shall be substituted in clauses (j) and (m) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 2 and regulations 6, 7, 9 and 15;
(d) for the words “residents’ information”, the words “information of Aadhaar number holders” shall be substituted in sub-regulation (2) of regulation 7;
(e) for the title of Chapter II, the title “ENROLMENT PROCESS” shall be substituted;
(f) for the title of Chapter III, the title “GENERATION OF AADHAAR NUMBERS AND THEIR DELIVERY” shall be substituted;
(g) for the word “resident” wherever it occurs, the words “Aadhaar number holder” shall be substituted in regulations 14 and clauses (a) and (b) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 28;
(h) for the title of Chapter IV, the title “UPDATE OF INFORMATION OF AADHAAR NUMBER HOLDER” shall be substituted;
(i) for the words “residents’ information prescribed at Regulation”, the words “information of Aadhaar number holders as referred to in regulation” shall be substituted in regulation 19A;
(j) for the words “residents, not exceeding an amount specified by the Authority,”, the words “individuals seeking to enrol and Aadhaar number holders, not exceeding such amount as the Authority may specify” shall be substituted in regulation 20;
(k) for the word “residents” wherever it occurs, the words “individuals seeking to enrol and Aadhaar number holders” shall be substituted in regulations 21 and 32 and Schedule V;
(l) the word “resident” shall be omitted in regulation 24;
(m) for the words “resident demographics”, the words “demographic information” shall be substituted in clause (d) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 28;
(n) for the word “residents”, the words “the individual concerned” shall be substituted in sub-regulation (1) of regulation 31; and
(o) for the word “a resident”, the words “the Aadhaar number holder” shall be substituted in sub-regulation (2) of regulation 31.
3. In the principal regulations, for regulation 27, the following regulation shall be substituted, namely:—
“27. Cases requiring omission of Aadhaar number.—(1) Where the Authority is satisfied that more than one Aadhaar numbers have been issued to the same person, the Aadhaar number assigned the earliest shall be retained and all subsequent Aadhaar numbers omitted.
(2) Where the Authority is satisfied that an Aadhaar number was generated for an individual who, at the time of enrolment,—
(a) was not eligible for enrolment with biometric exception under sub-regulation (2) of regulation 6 but whose enrolment was carried out following the procedure for handling of such exceptions as referred to therein; or
(b) was aged five years or above but was enrolled without capturing his biometrics, such Aadhaar number shall be omitted.
(3) An Aadhaar number holder may, upon attaining the age of eighteen years, make an application for cancellation of his Aadhaar number as per the form set out in Schedule VI, to a Regional Office of the Authority, within a period of six months from the date on which he attains such age and after—
(a) establishing his identity by performing authentication or by such other means as the Authority may specify in this behalf; and
(b) following such procedure as the Authority may specify in this behalf on its website, for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the relevant facts regarding his application for cancellation,
and, upon receipt of such application and fulfilment of the requirements referred to in clauses (a) and (b), the Authority shall, within a period of three months from the date of such fulfilment of requirements, take a decision on his application and, if satisfied regarding the eligibility of such Aadhaar number holder for cancellation, cancel the same:
Provided that any application for cancellation made on or before the commencement of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Second Amendment Regulations, 2024 shall be processed by the Authority in accordance with this regulation.”.
4. In the principal regulations, in regulation 29,—
(a) in sub-regulation (1), for the word “deactivated”, the following words, brackets and figures shall be substituted, namely:—
“deactivated, or an inspection, inquiry or audit under clause (l) of sub-section (2) of section 23 of the Act”; and
(b) after sub-regulation (1), the following sub-regulation shall be inserted, namely:—
“(1A) For omitting or deactivating an Aadhaar number and information relating thereto, pursuant to an inquiry as referred to in sub-regulation (1), the Authority may give access to or use or disclose information of the Aadhaar number holder, in the possession or control of the Authority, including information stored in the CIDR:
Provided that such giving of access to or use or disclosure of information shall be subject to the restriction on sharing of identity information under sub-sections (1), (2) and (4) of section 29.”.
5. In the principal regulations, in Schedule VI, for “[See regulation 27(1)(c)]”, “[See regulation 27(3)]” shall be substituted.
SALIL KUMAR, Director
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./715/2023-24]
Note: The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, dated the 14th September, 2016, vide notification number 13012/64/2016/ Legal/UIDAI (No. 2 of 2016), dated the 12th September, 2016, and were last amended vide Notification No. HQ-16016/1/2023-EU-I-HQ(E), dated the 16th January, 2024.
