Is Aadhaar (Aadhar) Mandatory? Where You Must Give It, and Where You Can Refuse

Someone is asking for your Aadhaar: what do you do?

Answer one or two questions. The full list of services is in the table below.

What did the Supreme Court and the Aadhaar Act say?

In the Puttaswamy judgment of 26 September 2018, the Supreme Court decided where Aadhaar can be made compulsory. News reports summarise it like this:

• Enrolment is voluntary and free, according to UIDAI's own "About Aadhaar" pages. One person gets one Aadhaar.
• Private companies: since the Good Governance Amendment Rules of 31 January 2025, a private entity can use Aadhaar authentication only with MeitY's approval.
• Biometric failure: UIDAI says agencies must offer an alternative (OTP, iris or face) so a benefit is not denied.

What does Aadhaar not prove?

So if an office wants proof of citizenship or date of birth, Aadhaar alone may not be enough. Ask which document they accept.

Where do people get wrongly asked for Aadhaar?

These situations come up often in user reports and the news. In each one, the reported legal position differs from what people are told.

• Opening a bank account or getting a SIM: reported not mandatory under the 2018 ruling. A bank may still need your Aadhaar seeded if you want DBT money in that account.
• School admission and exam forms: reported not mandatory for school admission or NEET, UGC and CBSE. Separately, news reports say a missed child biometric update has blocked NEET, JEE and CUET registrations and scholarships, so keep a child's Aadhaar updated if you do use it.
• Hotels keeping photocopies: UIDAI reportedly said in December 2025 that storing photocopies breaks the Aadhaar Act. Hotels are expected to verify offline instead. In our experience some still take a photocopy.
• Aadhaar as proof of date of birth or citizenship: it is not proof of citizenship, and is reported not to be proof of date of birth.
• Benefit refused because the fingerprint failed: reports say elderly people and labourers are often hit. The agency must offer another way (OTP, iris or face).
• Voter ID: reports say giving Aadhaar on Form 6B is voluntary, and nobody may be removed from the roll for not giving it.

How do you share Aadhaar safely when you choose to?

1. Download a masked e-Aadhaar

   Download e-Aadhaar from myAadhaar or the Aadhaar App with an OTP on your registered mobile, and choose the masked version. The difference between the formats is explained in e-Aadhaar vs PVC vs masked Aadhaar.

2. Generate a VID if the agency accepts it

   Only one VID is valid at a time. It has no expiry, and you can make a new one after at least one day.

3. Check where your Aadhaar was used

   The authentication history in UIDAI's Aadhaar App shows the last 6 months, with the agency that asked. Each authentication also sends an email notice. To stop fingerprint misuse, see Lock Aadhaar and biometrics.

   You'll know you're done when you have a masked e-Aadhaar saved, and your VID SMS has arrived.

Want to check an Aadhaar someone gives you? See Verify an Aadhaar. Every other 1947 SMS format: SMS command generator.

What if the fingerprint check fails when Aadhaar is required?

• Retry, try other fingers, and clean your finger and the scanner.
• If it still fails, UIDAI says the agency must offer an alternative (OTP, iris or face) so the benefit is not denied.
• For ration cards, the Department of Food & Public Distribution has said no genuine household may be deleted because of biometric failure. See Link Aadhaar with ration card.
• If your fingerprints fail again and again, a biometric update at an Aadhaar centre costs ₹125 (free for children at 5–7 and 15–17, and at 7–15 until 30 Sep 2027). See Fingerprints not matching.
• Error 330 means your biometric lock is on. Unlock, finish the check, then lock again.

What are the penalties for misusing Aadhaar?

The main offences and maximum penalties in the Aadhaar Act, as summarised in our sources (we have not reproduced the full text of the Act):

According to secondary sources, Aadhaar holders can also complain directly under section 47. For misuse you notice, start with 1947 or [email protected].

What problems do people face, and what can you do?

Bottom line

You must give Aadhaar for PAN and income tax (unless exempt) and for government subsidies and benefits. For bank accounts, SIM cards and school admission it is reported not to be mandatory, and voter ID linking is reported to be voluntary. When you share it, use a masked Aadhaar or VID. For Aadhaar help, UIDAI's free helpline is 1947.