Aadhaar Card: The central government has implemented a significant change concerning age proof requirements for government schemes. The date of birth listed on the Aadhaar card will no longer serve as the final and valid proof for accessing benefits from any such scheme. Under the new guidelines, Aadhaar will solely be recognized as proof of identity.
Only the date of birth recorded in the family register and educational certificates will be deemed valid. In the past, eligibility for schemes was based on the date of birth indicated on the Aadhaar card, but that is no longer the case.
Concerns about potential misuse
The central government mentioned in its order that the date of birth recorded in Aadhaar is frequently self-declared, which raises the risk of benefit misuse. As a result, other official documents will now take precedence for age verification, ensuring transparency and accurate eligibility checks. At present, the date of birth displayed on the Aadhaar card is not accepted for old age pensions, widow pensions, and mass marriage schemes.
Previously, this was the rule
District Social Welfare Officer Sunil Kumar Singh noted that previously, Aadhaar cards were accepted as proof of both identity and age across all central and state government schemes. Eligibility was determined based on the date of birth shown on Aadhaar, with no separate verification of the date of birth.
Now, only educational or family register documents will provide a valid date of birth. District Social Welfare Officer Sunil Kumar Singh emphasized that to access government benefits, only the date of birth recorded on educational certificates and the family register will be recognized as valid. Both of these birth dates are certified by a government official, whereas the date of birth on the Aadhaar card lacks such certification.
What is a family register?
A family register is a government document maintained by a village council, municipal body, or local administration for rural and urban residents. It contains the names, ages, relationships, gender, caste, occupation, and death information of all family members, including the head of the family. It is also known as a family register copy or family ID.
