New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Friday said it is not mandatory for NRIs and PIOs to link their bank accounts and other services with Aadhaar.
It has also issued instructions to central ministries, departments, state Governments and other various agencies to work out another method, other than Aadhaar, to verify the status of these individuals.
Stating that NRIs/PIOs/ OCIs may not be eligible to be enrolled under Aadhar Act he said Prevention of Money laundering Rules 2017 and the Income Tax Act clearly states that the linking of bank accounts and PAN respectively, “is for those persons who are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar”.
The department said various issues are surfacing where these Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are being forced and demanded to submit their Aadhaar in regard to various services and benefits.
It said that despite these individuals who are not entitled to be enrolled for Aadhar are being demanded to link their Aadhar’s for availing the services by various departments and implementing agencies.
In a notice to Central ministries and states dated 15 November, the UIDAI said, “The laws regarding submitting/linking of Aadhaar for availing the services/benefits applies to the residents as per the Aadhaar Act 2016… Most of the NRIs/PIOs/OCIs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment as per Aadhaar Act….”
Further instructing the implementing agency to device a mechanism “to ascertain the genuineness of status of such NRIs/PIOs/OCIs”.
Aadhar not mandatory for NRIs: UIDAI
