EPFO removes Aadhaar as valid proof

• The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will no longer accept Aadhaar card as a valid proof for date of birth.
• EPFO has followed a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• As per a recent UIDAI’s directive, Aadhaar was being considered as proof for date of birth by several beneficiaries.
• Aadhaar, while a unique identifier, was not recognized as proof of date of birth according to the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• In its directive, UIDAI emphasized that Aadhaar was a proof of identity, not proof of birth.

ABOUT AADHAAR

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.
• The Aadhaar programme was launched in 2009 by the UIDAI.
• UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• It serves as proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.
• The Aadhaar number is unique for each individual and will remain valid for life time and is linked to the individual’s biometric and demographic information.
• Aadhaar number helps the residents to avail various services provided by banking, mobile phone connections and other govt and Non-govt services.

ABOUT EPFO

• It is a statutory body that came into existence under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, of 1952.
• The EPFO administers the mandatory provident fund, a basic pension scheme, and a disability/death insurance scheme.
• The Act and Schemes framed there under are administered by a tri-partite Board known as the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund, consisting of representatives of Government (Both Central and State), Employers, and Employees.
• It is one of the world’s largest organizations in terms of clientele and the volume of financial transactions undertaken by it.
• The EPFO is under the purview of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.