Aadhaar card fine can rise to a WHOPPING 1 cr; here's what you can do

Violators beware! Any kind of violation will lead to a shocking Aadhaar card fine. The government of India has notified the UIDAI to act against violators.

Aadhaar card fine is so big it will shock you! Some violations are so serious that they can now attract fines of up to INR 1 crore. (Pradeep Gaur/ Mint)

Aadhaar violations will now see hefty fines from UIDAI! In the latest developments, the Government of India has asked the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to appoint officers for acting against violators of the Aadhaar Act. An Aadhaar card fine that officers can impose on such entities can go as high as INR 1 crore.

The government has notified the UIDAI to penalise entities working with Aadhaar ecosystem who fail to comply with the UIDAI's rules and regulations. The penalty in some of these cases can go up to 1 crore, according to the latest rules notified by the government under the act. Note that the legislation to bring UIDAI (Adjudication of Penalties) Rules, 2021, into the act was passed back in 2019.

Aadhaar card fine

The Adjudicating Officers appointed by the UIDAI shall decide these matters, and could impose Aadhaar card fines of up to ₹1 crore on violating entities. “This needs to be addressed with a view to protect privacy and also to ensure the autonomy of the UIDAI,” said the law when it was passed back in 2019.

The Indian government had brought the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 had one this to ensure that the UIDAI gets powers similar to that of a regulator taking enforcement actions. The civil penalties associated with Aadhaar could help the UIDAI control the usage of its database better.

What Aadhaar card holders can do

On the other hand, Aadhaar card holders should ensure that they verify their card frequently to safeguard themselves. UIDAI says that cardholders should verify their Aadhaar every once in a while to prevent fraudsters taking advantage of their card details. This verification process can be easily done via the Aadhaar website, or by using the mAadhaar app that can be downloaded from the app store.