The Government of India launched Aadhar Card with an objective to allow every Indian resident with a unique identification proof. The Aadhar Card serves as a valid identity proof, address proof and age proof and helps you carry out financial transactions with ease.
An Aadhar Card contains a 12-digit unique identification number for each individual which helps in establishing the identity of the individual. To make Aadhar Card more relevant for people, the Government launched the concept of linking your Aadhar Card with your bank account. Under this concept, individuals holding a valid Aadhar Card are required to link their bank accounts with their Aadhar Card number so that the card can serve as a centralised database. Is this rule mandatory?
When the concept of linking the Aadhar Card with the bank account was launched, the Government made it mandatory for individuals. A specific deadline was also set within which individuals were required to link their bank accounts with their Aadhar Cards. If individuals didn’t possess an Aadhar Card they were required to first obtain an Aadhar Card and then get the card linked with their bank accounts.
However, this rule was debated upon and then the Supreme Court ruled that linking the Aadhar Card with bank account would not be made mandatory. If individuals want a smoother flow of transactions, they can opt for linking their Aadhar Cards with their bank accounts but the choice would be entirely optional. So, currently, it is not mandatory to link your Aadhar Card with your bank account.
While linking Aadhar card with a bank account is not mandatory any longer, linking has various benefits which you can avail if you link your bank account with your Aadhar card. These benefits are as follows –
Though it is not mandatory to link your Aadhar Card with your bank account, it is better to do so anyway. When you link your card to your account, your banking transactions become smoother. You can open new accounts easily by referring to your Aadhar Card number rather than submitting multiple documents. Moreover, Aadhar Card number is a must for your income tax returns and when applying for a PAN Card. So, if you apply for an Aadhar Card, it is better to link the card to your bank account as well.
To make the process of linking simple and convenient, banks provide multiple ways in which their account holders can link their Aadhar Cards with their bank accounts. If you also want to link your Aadhar Card with your bank account, you can choose the most convenient way from the below-mentioned ways –
If you are registered for the net banking facility offered by your bank, you can link your bank account to your Aadhar Card online using the facility. The process is as follows –
You can also link your Aadhar Card with your bank account offline by visiting the branch of your bank. The process is as follows –
Banks provide their customers with mobile banking facilities wherein you can request for a service through your phone by calling the bank’s customer care number or by sending an SMS. Aadhar Card linking is also possible through an SMS. You would have to send an SMS to your bank with your Aadhar Card number in a specified text format. The SMS should be sent from the mobile number registered in the bank records. Once the SMS is sent, the bank would send an acknowledgement SMS for receiving your SMS. Thereafter, your Aadhar Card details would be verified and once the verification is done, the bank would send you a confirmation SMS stating that your account is linked with your Aadhar Card number.
The ATMs of the bank also allow you the facility to link your bank account with your Aadhar Card. However, the facility is available only on debit cards which are issued against your bank account. To link your Aadhar Card through ATM, the process is as follows –
Banks have IVR helpline numbers which you can call for some specific banking services. Linking of Aadhar Card is one such service which is available on your bank’s IVR number. Call the bank’s specified IVR number and choose the option of Aadhar Card linking. Provide your Aadhar Card number and confirm it. The bank would, then, process your request and send you a confirmation message on your registered mobile number when the linking is complete.
Nowadays banks have launched their mobile applications (apps) which allow you to bank right from your Smartphone. If your bank has a mobile application you can download the application on your Smartphone and use it to link your Aadhar Card with your bank account. You would, first, have to create your account on the application. Thereafter, there would be an option for linking Aadhar Card with your bank account. Choose the option, provide your Aadhar Card number, provide the bank account number which you want to link and hit ‘Submit’. The linking process would begin and once it is completed, you would get a notification on your Smartphone stating the same.
With so many choices available, you can choose any mode of linking your Aadhar Card with your bank account. Moreover, if you have initiated the linking process and want to check whether the account is linked or not, you can do so easily. The process is described below –
When you link your Aadhaar details with your bank account, there are certain things which you should keep in mind. These include the following –
Through a bank account linked with your Aadhar Card, you can ensure simpler and authentic banking transactions. So, choose a mode which is the most suitable for you and then link your Aadhar Card with your bank account in some simple steps.
Besides having easier banking transactions, when you link your Aadhar Card with your bank account you can get the LPG subsidies easily credited to your bank account. Your pensions and other social welfare benefits also get credited to your bank account easily. Lastly, you can make your Aadhar Card a centralized database for all your bank account details and access them easily from anywhere.
There is no eligibility for Aadhar Card linking. You just need to have an Aadhar Card and a bank account in your name to do the linking.
UIDAI is the central authority which keeps and maintains the details of all individuals holding a valid Aadhar Card. So, if you link your Aadhar Card with your bank account, the same would be updated in the UIDAI database.
It is not mandatory to link Aadhaar with your bank accounts. However, if you choose to do so, it is beneficial to link all your accounts with Aadhar for the benefits that you can receive. If you have bank accounts in multiple banks, you would have to do the linking independently with each bank. However, if you have multiple accounts with the same bank, like a savings account, current account, fixed deposit account, etc., you can do the linking at once by specifying the account numbers which are to be linked and your Aadhaar card number.
You can check the status of your Aadhaar card linking with your bank account online on UIDAI’s website. If the update has failed, the status would show ‘Pending’. The update might have failed if the Aadhar number or the bank account number was incorrect. In that case, you should try and update your Aadhaar card details again so that your bank account can be linked successfully.