Lok Sabha Question No. 4212 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-21
Subject: Baal Aadhaar Card
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, SUDHEER GUPTA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4212

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21-03-2018

## BAAL AADHAAR CARD

## 4212.  ADV.  JOICE  GEORGE:    SHRI  J.J.T.  NATTERJEE:    KUNWAR  HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:  SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:  SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has decided to introduce a Baal Aadhaar card for children below the age of five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereto;
- (c) the details of the features of Baal Aadhaar card along with its validity;
- (d) whether it is mandatory for each and every child below the age of five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether it will be linked with one of the parent's Aadhaar card and no biometric details will be captured and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  circulation  of  fake  Aadhaar cards in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI K. J. ALPHONS)

(a), (b) and (c): As per Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies Benefits and Services)  Act,  2016,  Unique  Identification  Authority  of  India  (UIDAI)  has  been  mandated  to issue Aadhaar to all residents of the country. There is no age bar for enrolment for Aadhaar.  The Aadhaar may be accepted as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder valid for life time.

'Baal Aadhaar', printed in blue coloured letter for communicating Aadhaar number to children below five years, has been introduced by UIDAI.  The letter informs the Aadhaar holder (Parents) to update the Aadhaar details with biometrics on attaining age of five years failing which Aadhaar will  be  deactivated  and  will  not  be  valid.    Blue  coloured  letter  has  been  introduced  to  visibly distinguish the letter for children, for ease of mass communication to people to get the biometrics of their children updated on attaining the age of five years.

- (d):  As per Section 3(1) of Aadhaar Act, 2016, every resident is entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number including children by submitting his demographic information and biometric information by undergoing process of enrolment.
- (e):  For  enrolment  of  child  below  of  5  years,  biometric  information  is  not  collected,  only demographic and photograph is collected.  Aadhaar number of the child is linked with either of the parent's  Aadhaar.

(f): As per subsection (3) of Section 4 of Aadhaar Act, 2016, 'an Aadhaar number, in physical or electronic form  subject to authentication and  other  conditions, as may  be  specified  by regulations,  may  be  accepted  as  proof  of  identity  of  the  Aadhaar  number  holder  for  any purpose.' Hence, question of fake Aadhaar, if used as per above provisions, does not arise. UIDAI has  provided  online  authentication  facility  whereby  any  Aadhaar  can  be  authenticated anywhere anytime.  Further, an online facility has also been provided for verifying an Aadhaar available at https://resident.uidai.gov.in/aadhaarverfication.

******