The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued a notification in New Delhi on January 16, 2024, introducing amendments to the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016. These amendments aim to enhance the procedures for enrolment and updating of Aadhaar information. The Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Amendment Regulations, 2024, bring significant changes to the enrolment and updating processes, emphasizing electronic forms, strict document handling, and periodic updates. Understanding these amendments is crucial for Aadhaar holders and operators to ensure compliance with the latest regulations. Stay informed about the specifics and visit UIDAI’s official website for further details.
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 16th 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) 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 principal regulations), in regulation 2, in sub-regulation (1),—
(a) after clause (fa), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(fb) “electronic form” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to it in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);’; and
(b) in clause (k), the words “or update of his demographic information or biometric information” shall be omitted.
3. In the principal regulations, for regulation 11, the following regulation shall be substituted, namely:—
“11. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION AT ENROLMENT CENTRE.—(1) THE OPERATOR SHALL CAPTURE—
A. THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AS SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING TO ENROL IN THE APPLICATION FORM SET OUT IN SCHEDULE I; AND
B. THE BIOMETRIC INFORMATION USING ONLY SUCH SOFTWARE AS IS PROVIDED OR APPROVED BY THE AUTHORITY.
(2) UPON PRESENTATION OF ONE OR MORE DOCUMENTS EVIDENCING THE PROOFS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) OF SUB-REGULATION (1) OF REGULATION 10, THE OPERATOR SHALL—
(a) make a copy in electronic form of every such document;
(b) give the individual seeking to enrol an opportunity to check the accuracy of the information captured under sub-regulation (1) and the copy referred to in clause (a) and shall, after such checking, upload such information and copy to the CIDR;
(c) not make or store a copy of any such document in physical or electronic form, save in accordance with—
(i) clause (b); or
(ii) the provisions contained in any other regulations made under the Act or any policy, procedure, guideline, order, process, standard, specification or other document issued by the Authority;
(d) return such documents; and
(e) provide the individual seeking to enrol an acknowledgement containing the EID and other enrolment details.
(3) the procedures, processes, standards and guidelines to be followed during the enrolment process, and the forms, templates and checklists to be used for carrying out the same, shall be such as the authority may specify in this behalf.”.
4. In the principal regulations, for regulation 16A, the following regulation shall be substituted, namely:—
“16A. Update of documents or information.—An Aadhaar number holder may, on completion of every period of 10 years from the date of generation of the Aadhaar number assigned to him, update the documents or the information evidencing proof of identity and proof of address as referred to in regulation 10, at least once, by submitting an application in such form set out in Schedule I as is applicable to such Aadhaar number holder or in the online form provided at the website or mobile application of the Authority and—
(a) undergoing authentication and presenting such documents, in original, at an enrolment centre in like manner as is provided in respect of presentation of documents under clause (a) of sub-regulation (1) of regulation 10;
(b) electronically uploading copies of such documents on the website or mobile application of the Authority, in the manner provided for this purpose on such website or application, as the case may be; or
(c) giving his consent for electronically obtaining the information evidencing the said proofs from the databases of the authorities dealing with the preparation or maintenance of such information,
so as to help ensure the continued accuracy of his information in the Central Identities Data Repository:
Provided that such presentation, electronic uploading or electronic obtaining shall be subject to the software provided or authorised by the Authority for carrying out the process of update supporting the same.”.
5. In the principal regulations, for regulation 19, the following regulation shall be substituted, namely:—
“19. Update of information of Aadhaar number holder.—(1) Any Aadhaar number holder who seeks to update his information in CIDR at an enrolment centre shall submit an application in such form set out in Schedule I as is applicable to such Aadhaar number holder, undergo authentication and—
(a) present at the enrolment centre, in original, for verification and scanning, one or more documents evidencing proof of identity and proof of address and, where applicable, proof of date of birth or proof of relationship or both, as the case may be; or
(b) give his consent for electronically obtaining the information evidencing the proofs referred to in clause (a) from the databases of the authorities dealing with the preparation or maintenance of such information:
Provided that such presentation or electronic obtaining of information shall be subject to the software provided or authorised by the Authority for collection of information for such update supporting the same.
(2) An Aadhaar number holder who seeks to update his information in CIDR using the website or mobile application of the Authority—
(a) shall submit on such website or application, as the case may be, such information as is required to be filled in the online form provided thereat for such update; and
(b) shall upload on such website or application, copy in electronic form of one or more documents evidencing the proofs referred to in sub-regulation (1), or give his consent for electronically obtaining the information evidencing such proofs from the databases of the authorities dealing with the preparation or maintenance of such information:
Provided that such uploading or electronic obtaining of information shall be subject to the software provided or authorised by the Authority for collection of information for such update supporting the same.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (1) or sub-regulation (2), if the Aadhaar number holder has previously updated the information regarding his—
(a) date of birth once;
(b) gender once; or
(c) name twice,
update of such information shall be done only in accordance with such process as the Authority may specify.
(4) A list of documents that may be presented to evidence the proofs referred to in sub-regulation (1) or sub-regulation (2) is in Schedule II.
(5) Verification of the information collected as part of the process of update shall be done on the basis of documents specified in Schedule II or electronic information to evidence the proofs referred to in clause (b) of sub-regulation (1) or clause (b) of sub-regulation (2):
Provided that assistance of—
(a) any Ministry, Department or agency of the Central Government or a State Government; or
(b) any authority dealing with the preparation or maintenance of such information or documents,
may be taken for the purpose of such verification.
(6) The operator, while collecting information for update at the enrolment centre, shall adhere, mutatis mutandis, to the requirements applicable to collection of information for enrolment at an enrolment centre under regulation 11.
(7) On completion of the process for collection of information for update at the enrolment centre, the operator shall provide to the Aadhaar number holder an acknowledgement containing a number to enable him to track the status of processing of the information collected.”.
6. In the principal regulations, in CHAPTER VI, below the heading of the said Chapter, the following regulation shall be inserted, namely:—
“26A. Interpretation.—In this Chapter and Schedule VI, unless the context otherwise requires, the expressions “cancel” or “omit”, in relation to an Aadhaar number, shall mean the omission of such Aadhaar number, and their grammatical variations and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.”.
7. In the principal regulations, in regulation 28A, for the words “from time to time”, the words, brackets and figures “from time to time, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 (16 of 1939) and the orders made and directions given thereunder, or the Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946) and the rules made thereunder” shall be substituted.
8. In the principal regulations, for “SCHEDULE I”, “SCHEDULE II” and “SCHEDULE VI” respectively, the following Schedules shall be substituted, namely:—
*The details of the regional offices out of which one has to be opted by resident for sending application and for subsequent authentication, shall be such as is provided at the official website of UIDAI i.e., www.uidai.gov.in.”.
SALIL KUMAR, Director
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./699/2023-24]
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 subsequently amended vide Notification No. HQ-21026/1/2022-LEGAL-HQ (E), dated the 29th September, 2023 (published on the 3rd October, 2023).
