The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has on 12th June, 2019 given assent to the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (“Bill”) to replace the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 (“Ordinance”). The amendments proposed in the Bill are the same as those contained in the Ordinance promulgated by President on 2nd March, 2019.
Key Highlights of the Bill:
- Allows voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or Allows voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline verification.
- Provides for use of twelve-digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal the actual Aadhaar number of an individual.
- Provides an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on attaining the age of eighteen years.
- Permits the entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with the standards of privacy and security specified by the Authority; and the authentication is permitted under any law made by Parliament or is prescribed to be in the interest of State by the Central Government;
- Allows the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002;
- Prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication;
- Provides for civil penalties of up to Rs 1 crore on entities that violate the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, with an additional fine of up to Rs 10 lakh per day in case of continuous non- compliance.
Source: Lok Sabha ; Press Information Bureau
