UIDAI cautions people against Aadhaar 'smart card'

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday cautioned people not to fall prey to unscrupulous entities that are charging between Rs.50 to Rs.200 for printing Aadhaar on a plastic card in the name of 'smart card'.

"The Aadhaar card or the downloaded Aadhaar card printed on ordinary paper is perfectly valid for all uses. If a person has a paper Aadhaar card, there is absolutely no need to get his or her Aadhaar card laminated or obtain a plastic Aadhaar card or so called 'smart' Aadhaar card by paying money. There is no concept such as smart Aadhaar card," said Ajay Bhushan Pandey, director general and mission director of UIDAI.

In case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download his Aadhaar card free of cost from the official website. The print-out of the downloaded Aadhaar, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI, the statement said.

It also cautioned the e-commerce companies not to allow their merchants to collect Aadhaar information from general public for printing Aadhaar card as collecting such information or unauthorised printing of Aadhaar card or aiding such persons in any manner may amount to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code and also Chapter VI of The Aadhaar Act, 2016.