Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016
An Act to provide for, as a good governance, efficient, transparent, and targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services, the expenditure for which is incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India, to individuals residing in India through assigning of unique identity numbers to such individuals and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
TaxByKK · Laws by Sector · taxbykk.comIndex as on 1st July, 2026
Index of provisions · 9 chapters, 69 sections
Chapter I Preliminary2 sections
Chapter II Enrolment5 sections
Chapter III Authentication5 sections
Chapter IV Unique Identification Authority of India14 sections
- 11Establishment of Authority
- 12Composition of Authority
- 13Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Authority
- 14Term of office and other conditions of service of Chairperson and Members
- 15Removal of Chairperson and Members
- 16Restrictions on Chairperson or Members on employment after cessation of office
- 17Functions of Chairperson
- 18Chief executive officer
- 19Meetings of Authority
- 20Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Authority
- 21Officers and other employees of Authority
- 22Transfer of assets, liabilities of Authority
- 23Powers and functions of Authority
- 23APower of Authority to issue directions
Chapter V Grants, Accounts and Audit and Annual Report4 sections
Chapter VI Protection of Information6 sections
- 28Security and confidentiality of information
- 29Restriction on sharing information
- 30Biometric information deemed to be sensitive personal information
- 31Alteration of demographic information or biometric information
- 32Access to own information and records of requests for authentication
- 33Disclosure of information in certain cases
Chapter VIA Civil Penalties6 sections
Chapter VII Offences and Penalties14 sections
- 34Penalty for impersonation at time of enrolment
- 35Penalty for impersonation of Aadhaar number holder by changing demographic information or biometric information
- 36Penalty for impersonation
- 37Penalty for disclosing identity information
- 38Penalty for unauthorised access to the Central Identities Data Repository
- 39Penalty for tampering with data in Central Identities Data Repository
- 40Penalty for unauthorised use by requesting entity or offline verification-seeking entity
- 41Penalty for non-compliance with intimation requirements
- 42General penalty
- 43Offences by companies
- 44Act to apply for offence or contravention committed outside India
- 45Power to investigate offences
- 46Penalties not to interfere with other punishments
- 47Cognizance of offences
Chapter VIII Miscellaneous13 sections
- 48Power of Central Government to supersede Authority
- 49Members, officers, etc., to be public servants
- 50Power of Central Government to issue directions
- 50AExemption from tax on income
- 51Delegation
- 52Protection of action taken in good faith
- 53Power of Central Government to make rules
- 54Power of Authority to make regulations
- 55Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament
- 56Application of other laws not barred
- 57[Omitted]
- 58Power to remove difficulties
- 59Savings
About this Act
Gives every resident of India a 12-digit Aadhaar number, based on demographic and biometric information, and makes it the means of proving identity for subsidies, benefits and services paid for from the Consolidated Fund of India (and, since 2019, of a State).
Sets up the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to issue the numbers, run authentication and keep the Central Identities Data Repository.
Limits how identity information may be stored, shared and disclosed, treats biometric information as sensitive personal information, and punishes misuse through civil penalties (Chapter VIA) and offences (Chapter VII).
Who it applies to
- Every Aadhaar number holder
- Central and State departments that give subsidies, benefits or services
- Banks, telecom companies and other entities that authenticate or verify Aadhaar
- Registrars, enrolling agencies and others in the Aadhaar ecosystem
Good to know
- Added in 2019
- Section 3A (children), section 8A (offline verification), section 23A (UIDAI directions) and Chapter VIA (civil penalties)
- Supreme Court
- In K.S. Puttaswamy v Union of India (2018), the Supreme Court upheld the Act but struck down parts of it, including the part of section 57 that let private bodies use Aadhaar; section 57 now stands omitted
- Amended by
- The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 (14 of 2019); The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019); The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (18 of 2023)
Frequently asked questions
Which section says Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship?
Section 9 says an Aadhaar number is not evidence of citizenship or domicile.
Which section deals with offline verification of Aadhaar?
Section 8A, added by the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Who issues Aadhaar numbers?
The Unique Identification Authority of India, established under section 11 (Chapter IV).
Where are the penalties in the Aadhaar Act?
Civil penalties are in Chapter VIA (sections 33A to 33F); offences and punishments are in Chapter VII (sections 34 to 47).