In an unprecedented move, Supreme Court has extended Aadhaar linking deadline, indefinitely.
March 31st was the earlier deadline, which Govt. had mandated, for all services which were supposed to be linked with Aadhaar.
We are terming this unprecedented because Supreme Court had to intervene and stop Govt. from enforcing the deadline – something which we don’t witness daily.
Aadhaar Linking Deadline Extended
Here are 5 things you should know:
- If anyone, any Govt. official or bank official or telecom operator asks you to link Aadhaar with their respective service, citing March 31st deadline, then you can inform them about Supreme Court’s latest verdict. Although linking Aadhaar with Bank account, PAN Card, mobile phone, driving license etc is mandatory, but as of now, there is no deadline as such. You can link it, as per your own convenience.
- While delivering the order, Supreme Court rapped the Govt. and said that they cannot enforce the Aadhaar linkage, with deadlines. In fact, as per Supreme Court, Aadhaar cannot be asked to be linked even for Tatkal passport. A five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan said, “The government cannot insist for mandatory Aadhaar even for the issuance of Tatkal passport.”
- Having said that, please note that under Section 7 of the Constitution, Aadhaar is mandatory for availing subsidies, and welfare programs announced by the Govt. However, Aadhaar cannot be a reason for denial of basic services like health, education and food.
- The case in which SC ruled this verdict is pertaining to the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar, and privacy issue, which is still ongoing. In the same case, Supreme Court had earlier ordered that Aadhaar won’t be necessary for any All India exam, including NEET. Representing Govt. of India, Attorney General K K Venugopal had said that time, that Aadhaar linking deadline can be extended in the future, which has been now confirmed by Supreme Court.
- Aadhaar has been made mandatory for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (free LPG), UPI based BHIM App, mobile phones, bank accounts, PAN Cards, Driving License, and more. Here is a recap of all the schemes, scholarships and programs, for which Aadhaar is mandatory:
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Grameen)
- BSR Doctoral Fellowship in Sciences
- Dr S. Radhakrishnan Post Doctoral Fellowship In Humanities
- Emeritus Fellowship
- Kothari Post Doctoral Fellowship in Sciences
- National Research Professorship
- Ishan Uday Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region
- National Eligibility Test-Junior Research. Fellowship
- P. G. Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
- P. G. Scholarship for Professional Courses for SC or ST candidates
- P. G. Scholarship for University Rank Holders
- PG Scholarship for GATE qualified PG Students
- PMSSS for J and K Students admitted in rest of India
- Post Doctoral. Fellowship for Women
- Post- Doctoral Fellowship for SC or ST Candidates
- Pragati Scholarship for girls Diploma Institutes
- Pragati Scholarship for girls in Degree Colleges
- QIP for faculty deputed for PhD studies at QIP centres
- Saksham Scholarship for differently abled students of Degree College
- Saksham scholarship for differently abled students of Diploma Institutes
- Scholarship To Universities /College Students
- Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship
- Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund
- Finacial assistance for the preservation and development of Himalayan Cultural Heritage for Himalaya
- Financial Assistance for the Cultural Function Grant SchemeCFGS
- Financial Assistance for the development of Buddhist / Tibetian Organizations
- Financial Assistance to Cultural Organization
- International Cultural Relation
- Production Grant
- Repertory Grant Scheme
- Scheme for the Award of Fellowship to outstanding persons in the field of Culture
- Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in different cultural fields
- Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research
- Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund
- Finacial assistance for the preservation and development of Himalayan Cultural Heritage for Himalaya
- Financial Assistance for the Cultural Function Grant Scheme
- Financial Assistance for the development of Buddhist / Tibetian Organizations
- Financial Assistance to Cultural Organization
- International Cultural Relation
- Production Grant
- Repertory Grant Scheme
- Scheme for the Award of Fellowship to outstanding persons in the field of Culture
- Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in different cultural fields
- Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research
- Maternity Benefit Programme
- Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage
- National Means Cum Merit Scholarship
- National Scheme For Incentive For The Girl Child For Secondary Education
- Maulana Azad National Fellowship
- Merit Cum Means Scholarship For Minorities
- Post Matric Scholarship Scheme For Minorities
- Pre Matric Scholarship Scheme For Minorities
- Housing Subsidy To Beedi Workers
- Housing Subsidy To Iron/Manganese/Chrome Ore Workers
- Housing Subsidy To Lime Stone and Dolomite LSDM Workers
- Rehabilitation Assistance
- Scholarship To The Children of Lime Stone and Dolomite LSDM Workers
- Scholarship To The Children of Beedi Workers
- Scholarship To The Children of Cine Workers
- Scholarship To The Children of Iron/Manganese/Chrome Ore Workers
- Stipend to children in the special schools under the National Child Labour Project
- Stipend to Differently Abled Candidates under Scheme of Vocational Rehabilitation Centre
- Stipend To Trainees Under The Scheme Of Welfare Of SC/ST Job Seekers
- Post-matric Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities
- Pre-matric scholarship for Persons with disabilities
- Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for students
- Scholarship for Top Class Education
- Janani Suraksha Yojana
- Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana
- Life Insurance-linked with Jan Dhan Yojana
- Assistance for procurement of modified scooter
- Assistance for purchase of Tool Kits
- Assistance for treatment of cancer and dialysis
- Assistance for treatment of listed serious diseases
- Interest subsidy on home loan up to max 1 lakh
- Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme
- Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy
We will keep you updated, as we receive more information.