THE AADHAAR (TARGETED DELIVERY OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUBSIDIES,

BENEFITS AND SERVICES) ACT, 2016

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
SECTIONS
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
CHAPTER II
ENROLMENT
3. Aadhaar number.
4. Properties of Aadhaar number.
5. Special measures for issuance of Aadhaar number to certain category of persons.
6. Update of certain information.
CHAPTER III
AUTHENTICATION
7. Proof of Aadhaar number necessary for receipt of certain subsidies, benefits and services, etc.
8. Authentication of Aadhaar number.
9. Aadhaar number not evidence of citizenship or domicile, etc.
10. Central Identities Data Repository.
CHAPTER IV
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA
11. Establishment of Authority.
12. Composition of Authority.
13. Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Authority.
14. Term of office and other conditions of service of Chairperson and Members.
15. Removal of Chairperson and Members.
16. Restrictions on Chairperson or Members on employment after cessation of office.
17. Functions of Chairperson.
18. Chief executive officer.
19. Meetings of Authority.

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SECTIONS
20. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Authority.
21. Officers and other employees of Authority.
22. Transfer of assets, liabilities of Authority.
23. Powers and functions of Authority.
CHAPTER V
GRANTS, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT AND ANNUAL REPORT
24. Grants by Central Government.
25. Other fees and revenues.
26. Accounts and audit.
27. Returns and annual report, etc.
CHAPTER VI
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
28. Security and confidentiality of information.
29. Restriction on sharing information.
30. Biometric information deemed to be sensitive personal information.
31. Alteration of demographic information or biometric information.
32. Access to own information and records of requests for authentication.
33. Disclosure of information in certain cases.
CHAPTER VII
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
34. Penalty for impersonation at time of enrolment.
35. Penalty for impersonation of Aadhaar number holder by changing demographic information or
biometric information.
36. Penalty for impersonation.
37. Penalty for disclosing identity information.
38. Penalty for unauthorised access to the Central Identities Data Repository.
39. Penalty for tampering with data in Central Identities Data Repository.
40. Penalty for unauthorised use by requesting entity.
41. Penalty for non-compliance with intimation requirements.
42. General penalty.
43. Offences by companies.
44. Act to apply for offence or contravention committed outside India.
45. Power to investigate offences.
46. Penalties not to interfere with other punishments.
47. Cognizance of offences.

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 CHAPTER VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTIONS
48. Power of Central Government to supersede Authority.
49. Members, officers, etc., to be public servants.
50. Power of Central Government to issue directions.
51. Delegation.
52. Protection of action taken in good faith.
53. Power of Central Government to make rules.
54. Power of Authority to make regulations.
55. Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament.
56. Application of other laws not barred.
57. Act not to prevent use of Aadhaar number for other purposes under law.
58. Power to remove difficulties.
59. Savings.

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 THE AADHAAR (TARGETED DELIVERY OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUBSIDIES,
BENEFITS AND SERVICES) ACT, 2016
ACT NO. 18 OF 2016
[25th March, 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.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.(1) This Act may be called the Aadhaar (Targeted
Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir and save as otherwise
provided in this Act, it shall also apply to any offence or contravention thereunder committed outside
India by any person.
(3) It shall come into force on such date1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may, be appointed for different provisions of this Act and
any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to
the commencement of that provision.
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) Aadhaar number means an identification number issued to an individual under
sub-section (3) of section 3;
(b) Aadhaar number holder means an individual who has been issued an Aadhaar number under
this Act;
(c) authentication means the process by which the Aadhaar number alongwith demographic
information or biometric information of an individual is submitted to the Central Identities Data
Repository for its verification and such Repository verifies the correctness, or the lack thereof, on the
basis of information available with it;
(d) authentication record means the record of the time of authentication and identity of the
requesting entity and the response provided by the Authority thereto;
(e) Authority means the Unique Identification Authority of India established under
sub-section (1) of section 11;
(f) benefit means any advantage, gift, reward, relief, or payment, in cash or kind, provided to an
individual or a group of individuals and includes such other benefits as may be notified by the Central
Government;
(g) biometric information means photograph, finger print, Iris scan, or such other biological
attributes of an individual as may be specified by regulations;
(h) Central Identities Data Repository means a centralised database in one or more locations
containing all Aadhaar numbers issued to Aadhaar number holders along with the corresponding
demographic information and biometric information of such individuals and other information related
thereto;

1. 12th September, 2016 Section 1 to 10, 24 to 47, vide notification No. S.O. 2927 (E), dated 12th September, 2016 see
Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3 (ii).
12th July, 2016 Section 11 to 20, 22 and 23, 48 to 59, vide notification No. S.O. 2357 (E), dated 12 the July 2016, see
Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3 (ii).

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 (i) Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Authority appointed under section 12;
(j) core biometric information means finger print, Iris scan, or such other biological attribute of
an individual as may be specified by regulations;
(k) demographic information includes information relating to the name, date of birth, address
and other relevant information of an individual, as may be specified by regulations for the purpose of
issuing an Aadhaar number, but shall not include race, religion, caste, tribe, ethnicity, language,
records of entitlement, income or medical history;
(l) enrolling agency means an agency appointed by the Authority or a Registrar, as the case
may be, for collecting demographic and biometric information of individuals under this Act;
(m) enrolment means the process, as may be specified by regulations, to collect demographic
and biometric information from individuals by the enrolling agencies for the purpose of issuing
Aadhaar numbers to such individuals under this Act;
(n) identity information in respect of an individual, includes his Aadhaar number, his biometric
information and his demographic information;
(o) Member includes the Chairperson and Member of the Authority appointed under section 12;
(p) notification means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression
notified with its cognate meanings and grammatical variations shall be construed accordingly;
(q) prescribed means prescribed by rules made by the Central Government under this Act;
(r) records of entitlement means records of benefits, subsidies or services provided to, or
availed by, any individual under any programme;
(s) Registrar means any entity authorised or recognised by the Authority for the purpose of
enrolling individuals under this Act;
(t) regulations means the regulations made by the Authority under this Act;
(u) requesting entity means an agency or person that submits the Aadhaar number, and
demographic information or biometric information, of an individual to the Central Identities Data
Repository for authentication;
(v) resident means an individual who has resided in India for a period or periods amounting in
all to one hundred and eighty-two days or more in the twelve months immediately preceding the date
of application for enrolment;
(w) service means any provision, facility, utility or any other assistance provided in any form to
an individual or a group of individuals and includes such other services as may be notified by the
Central Government;
(x) subsidy means any form of aid, support, grant, subvention, or appropriation, in cash or kind,
to an individual or a group of individuals and includes such other subsidies as may be notified by the
Central Government.
CHAPTER II
ENROLMENT
3. Aadhaar number. (1) Every resident shall be entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number by
submitting his demographic information and biometric information by undergoing the process of
enrolment:
Provided that the Central Government may, from time to time, notify such other category of
individuals who may be entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number.
(2) The enrolling agency shall, at the time of enrolment, inform the individual undergoing enrolment
of the following details in such manner as may be specified by regulations, namely:
(a) the manner in which the information shall be used;
(b) the nature of recipients with whom the information is intended to be shared during
authentication; and

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 (c) the existence of a right to access information, the procedure for making requests for such
access, and details of the person or department in-charge to whom such requests can be made.
(3) On receipt of the demographic information and biometric information under sub-section (1), the
Authority shall, after verifying the information, in such manner as may be specified by regulations, issue
an Aadhaar number to such individual.
4. Properties of Aadhaar number. (1) An Aadhaar number, issued to an individual shall not be
re-assigned to any other individual.
(2) An Aadhaar number shall be a random number and bear no relation to the attributes or identity of
the Aadhaar number holder.
(3) An Aadhaar number, in physical or electronic form subject to authentication and other conditions,
as may be specified by regulations, may be accepted as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder
for any purpose.
Explanation.For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression electronic form shall have the
same meaning as assigned to it in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology
Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
5. Special measures for issuance of Aadhaar number to certain category of persons. The
Authority shall take special measures to issue Aadhaar number to women, children, senior citizens,
persons with disability, unskilled and unorganised workers, nomadic tribes or to such other persons who
do not have any permanent dwelling house and such other categories of individuals as may be specified
by regulations.
6. Update of certain information. The Authority may require Aadhaar number holders to update
their demographic information and biometric information, from time to time, in such manner as may be
specified by regulations, so as to ensure continued accuracy of their information in the Central Identities
Data Repository.
CHAPTER III
AUTHENTICATION
7. Proof of Aadhaar number necessary for receipt of certain subsidies, benefits and services,
etc.The Central Government or, as the case may be, the State Government may, for the purpose of
establishing identity of an individual as a condition for receipt of a subsidy, benefit or service for which
the expenditure is incurred from, or the receipt therefrom forms part of, the Consolidated Fund of India,
require that such individual undergo authentication, or furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or
in the case of an individual to whom no Aadhaar number has been assigned, such individual makes an
application for enrolment:
Provided that if an Aadhaar number is not assigned to an individual, the individual shall be offered
alternate and viable means of identification for delivery of the subsidy, benefit or service.
8. Authentication of Aadhaar number. (1) The Authority shall perform authentication of the
Aadhaar number of an Aadhaar number holder submitted by any requesting entity, in relation to his
biometric information or demographic information, subject to such conditions and on payment of such
fees and in such manner as may be specified by regulations.
(2) A requesting entity shall
(a) unless otherwise provided in this Act, obtain the consent of an individual before collecting his
identity information for the purposes of authentication in such manner as may be specified by
regulations; and
(b) ensure that the identity information of an individual is only used for submission to the Central
Identities Data Repository for authentication.

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 (3) A requesting entity shall inform, in such manner as may be specified by regulations, the individual
submitting his identity information for authentication, the following details with respect to authentication,
namely:
(a) the nature of information that may be shared upon authentication;
(b) the uses to which the information received during authentication may be put by the requesting
entity; and
(c) alternatives to submission of identity information to the requesting entity.
(4) The Authority shall respond to an authentication query with a positive, negative or any other
appropriate response sharing such identity information excluding any core biometric information.
9. Aadhaar number not evidence of citizenship or domicile, etc. The Aadhaar number or the
authentication thereof shall not, by itself, confer any right of, or be proof of, citizenship or domicile in
respect of an Aadhaar number holder.
10. Central Identities Data Repository. The Authority may engage one or more entities to
establish and maintain the Central Identities Data Repository and to perform any other functions as may
be specified by regulations.
CHAPTER IV
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INIDA
11. Establishment of Authority. (1) The Central Government shall, by notification, establish an
Authority to be known as the Unique Identification Authority of India to be responsible for the processes
of enrolment and authentication and perform such other functions assigned to it under this Act.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a
common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property,
both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.
(3) The head office of the Authority shall be in New Delhi.
(4) The Authority may, with the prior approval of the Central Government, establish its offices at
other places in India.
12. Composition of Authority.The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson, appointed on
part-time or full-time basis, two part-time Members, and the chief executive officer who shall be
Member-Secretary of the Authority, to be appointed by the Central Government.
13. Qualifications for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Authority.The
Chairperson and Members of the Authority shall be persons of ability and integrity having experience and
knowledge of at least ten years in matters relating to technology, governance, law, development,
economics, finance, management, public affairs or administration.
14. Term of office and other conditions of service of Chairperson and Members.(1) The
Chairperson and the Members appointed under this Act shall hold office for a term of three years from the
date on which they assume office and shall be eligible for re-appointment:
Provided that no person shall hold office as the Chairperson or Member after he has attained the age
of sixty-five years.
(2) The Chairperson and every Member shall, before entering office, make and subscribe to, an oath
of office and of secrecy, in such form and in such manner and before such Authority as may be
prescribed.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Chairperson or Member may
(a) relinquish his office, by giving in writing to the Central Government, a notice of not less than
thirty days; or
(b) be removed from his office in accordance with the provisions of section 15.

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 (4) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the
Chairperson and allowances or remuneration payable to part-time Members shall be such as may be
prescribed.
15. Removal of Chairperson and Members.(1) The Central Government may remove from
office, the Chairperson, or a Member, who
(a) is, or at any time has been adjudged as insolvent;
(b) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as the Chairperson or, as the case may
be, a Member;
(c) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves
moral turpitude;
(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as
the Chairperson or, as the case may be, a Member; or
(e) has, in the opinion of the Central Government, so abused his position as to render his
continuance in office detrimental to the public interest.
(2) The Chairperson or a Member shall not be removed under clause (b), clause (d) or clause (e) of
sub-section (1) unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
16. Restrictions on Chairperson or Members on employment after cessation of office. The
Chairperson or a Member on ceasing to hold office for any reason, shall not, without previous approval of
the Central Government,
(a) accept any employment in, or be connected with the management of any organisation,
company or any other entity which has been associated with any work done or contracted out by the
Authority, whether directly or indirectly, during his tenure as Chairperson or Member, as the case
may be, for a period of three years from the date on which he ceases to hold office:
Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to any employment under the Central
Government or a State Government or local authority or in any statutory authority or any corporation
established by or under any Central, State or provincial Act or a Government Company, as defined in
clause (45) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013);
(b) act, for or on behalf of any person or organisation in connection with any specific proceeding
or transaction or negotiation or a case to which the Authority is a party and with respect to which the
Chairperson or such Member had, before cessation of office, acted for or provided advice to, the
Authority;
(c) give advice to any person using information which was obtained in his capacity as the
Chairperson or a Member and being unavailable to or not being able to be made available to the
public; or
(d) enter, for a period of three years from his last day in office, into a contract of service with,
accept an appointment to a board of directors of, or accept an offer of employment with, an entity
with which he had direct and significant official dealings during his term of office.
17. Functions of Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside over the meetings of the Authority,
and without prejudice to any provision of this Act, exercise and discharge such other powers and
functions of the Authority as may be prescribed.
18. Chief executive officer. (1) There shall be a chief executive officer of the Authority, not below
the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India, to be appointed by the Central Government.
(2) The chief executive officer shall be the legal representative of the Authority and shall be
responsible for
(a) the day-to-day administration of the Authority;
(b) implementing the work programmes and decisions adopted by the Authority;

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 (c) drawing up of proposal for the Authority's decisions and work programmes;
(d) the preparation of the statement of revenue and expenditure and the execution of the budget of
the Authority; and
(e) performing such other functions, or exercising such other powers, as may be specified by
regulations.
(3) Every year, the chief executive officer shall submit to the Authority for approval
(a) a general report covering all the activities of the Authority in the previous year;
(b) programmes of work;
(c) the annual accounts for the previous year; and
(d) the budget for the coming year.
(4) The chief executive officer shall have administrative control over the officers and other employees
of the Authority.
19. Meetings of Authority.(1) The Authority shall meet at such times and places and shall observe
such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings, including quorum at such
meetings, as may be specified by regulations.
(2) The Chairperson, or, if for any reason, he is unable to attend a meeting of the Authority, the senior
most Member shall preside over the meetings of the Authority.
(3) All questions which come up before any meeting of the Authority shall be decided by a majority
of votes by the Members present and voting and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or in
his absence the presiding Member shall have a casting vote.
(4) All decisions of the Authority shall be signed by the Chairperson or any other Member or the
Member-Secretary authorised by the Authority in this behalf.
(5) If any Member, who is a director of a company and who as such director, has any direct or
indirect pecuniary interest in any manner coming up for consideration at a meeting of the Authority, he
shall, as soon as possible after relevant circumstances have come to his knowledge, disclose the nature of
his interest at such meeting and such disclosure shall be recorded in the proceedings of the Authority, and
the Member shall not take part in any deliberation or decision of the Authority with respect to that matter.
20. Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Authority.No act or proceeding of the
Authority shall be invalid merely by reason of
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Authority;
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person as Chairperson or Member of the Authority; or
(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Authority not affecting the merits of the case.
21. Officers and other employees of Authority. (1) The Authority may, with the approval of the
Central Government, determine the number, nature and categories of other officers and employees
required by the Authority in the discharge of its functions.
(2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the chief
executive officer and other officers and other employees of the Authority shall be such as may be
specified by regulations with the approval of the Central Government.
22. Transfer of assets, liabilities of Authority. On and from the establishment of the Authority
(a) all the assets and liabilities of the Unique Identification Authority of India, established vide
notification of the Government of India in the Planning Commission number
A-43011/02/2009-Admin. I, dated the 28th January, 2009, shall stand transferred to, and vested in,
the Authority.

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 Explanation.The assets of such Unique Identification Authority of India shall be deemed to include
all rights and powers, and all properties, whether movable or immovable, including, in particular, cash
balances, deposits and all other interests and rights in, or arising out of, such properties as may be in the
possession of such Unique Identification Authority of India and all books of account and other documents
relating to the same; and liabilities shall be deemed to include all debts, liabilities and obligations of
whatever kind;
(b) without prejudice to the provisions of clause (a), all data and information collected during
enrolment, all details of authentication performed, debts, obligations and liabilities incurred, all
contracts entered into and all matters and things engaged to be done by, with or for such Unique
Identification Authority of India immediately before that day, for or in connection with the purpose of
the said Unique Identification Authority of India, shall be deemed to have been incurred, entered into
or engaged to be done by, with or for, the Authority;
(c) all sums of money due to the said Unique Identification Authority of India immediately before
that day shall be deemed to be due to the Authority; and
(d) all suits and other legal proceedings instituted or which could have been instituted by or
against such Unique Identification Authority of India immediately before that day may be continued
or may be instituted by or against the Authority.
23. Powers and functions of Authority.(1) The Authority shall develop the policy, procedure and
systems for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication thereof under this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1), the powers and functions of the Authority, inter alia,
include
(a) specifying, by regulations, demographic information and biometric information required for
enrolment and the processes for collection and verification thereof;
(b) collecting demographic information and biometric information from any individual seeking an
Aadhaar number in such manner as may be specified by regulations;
(c) appointing of one or more entities to operate the Central Identities Data Repository;
(d) generating and assigning Aadhaar numbers to individuals;
(e) performing authentication of Aadhaar numbers;
(f) maintaining and updating the information of individuals in the Central Identities Data
Repository in such manner as may be specified by regulations;
(g) omitting and deactivating of an Aadhaar number and information relating thereto in such
manner as may be specified by regulations;
(h) specifying the manner of use of Aadhaar numbers for the purposes of providing or availing of
various subsidies, benefits, services and other purposes for which Aadhaar numbers may be used;
(i) specifying, by regulations, the terms and conditions for appointment of Registrars, enrolling
agencies and service providers and revocation of appointments thereof;
(j) establishing, operating and maintaining of the Central Identities Data Repository;
(k) sharing, in such manner as may be specified by regulations, the information of Aadhaar
number holders, subject to the provisions of this Act;
(l) calling for information and records, conducting inspections, inquiries and audit of the
operations for the purposes of this Act of the Central Identities Data Repository, Registrars, enrolling
agencies and other agencies appointed under this Act;
(m) specifying, by regulations, various processes relating to data management, security protocols
and other technology safeguards under this Act;
(n) specifying, by regulations, the conditions and procedures for issuance of new Aadhaar number
to existing Aadhaar number holder;

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 (o) levying and collecting the fees or authorising the Registrars, enrolling agencies or other
service providers to collect such fees for the services provided by them under this Act in such manner
as may be specified by regulations;
(p) appointing such committees as may be necessary to assist the Authority in discharge of its
functions for the purposes of this Act;
(q) promoting research and development for advancement in biometrics and related areas,
including usage of Aadhaar numbers through appropriate mechanisms;
(r) evolving of, and specifying, by regulations, policies and practices for Registrars, enrolling
agencies and other service providers;
(s) setting up facilitation centres and grievance redressal mechanism for redressal of grievances of
individuals, Registrars, enrolling agencies and other service providers;
(t) such other powers and functions as may be prescribed.
(3) The Authority may,
(a) enter into Memorandum of Understanding or agreement, as the case may be, with the Central
Government or State Governments or Union territories or other agencies for the purpose of
performing any of the functions in relation to collecting, storing, securing or processing of
information or delivery of Aadhaar numbers to individuals or performing authentication;
(b) by notification, appoint such number of Registrars, engage and authorise such agencies to
collect, store, secure, process information or do authentication or perform such other functions in
relation thereto,
as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(4) The Authority may engage such consultants, advisors and other persons as may be required for
efficient discharge of its functions under this Act on such allowances or remuneration and terms and
conditions as may be specified by contract.
CHAPTER V
GRANTS, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT AND ANNUAL REPORT
24. Grants by Central Government. The Central Government may, after due appropriation made
by Parliament by law in this behalf, make to the Authority, grants of such sums of money as the Central
Government may think fit for being utilised for the purposes of this Act.
25. Other fees and revenues.The fees or revenue collected by the Authority shall be credited to
the Consolidated Fund of India.
26. Accounts and audit.(1) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant
records and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central
Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor-General
of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with
such audit shall be payable by the Authority to the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection
with the audit the accounts of the Authority under this Act shall have the same rights and privileges and
authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General generally has in
connection with the audit of Government accounts, and in particular, shall have the right to demand
production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers, and to inspect any of
the offices of the Authority.
(4) The accounts of the Authority, as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or
any other person appointed by him in this behalf, together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded
annually to the Central Government by the Authority and the Central Government shall cause the audit
report to be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.

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 27. Returns and annual report, etc. (1) The Authority shall furnish to the Central Government at
such time and in such form and manner as may be prescribed or as the Central Government may direct,
such returns and statements and particulars in regard to any matter under the jurisdiction of the Authority,
as the Central Government may from time to time require.
(2) The Authority shall prepare, once in every year, and in such form and manner and at such time as
may be prescribed, an annual report giving
(a) a description of all the activities of the Authority for the previous years;
(b) the annual accounts for the previous year; and
(c) the programmes of work for coming year.
(3) A copy of the report received under sub-section (2) shall be laid by the Central Government, as
soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.
CHAPTER VI
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
28. Security and confidentiality of information. (1) The Authority shall ensure the security of
identity information and authentication records of individuals.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Authority shall ensure confidentiality of identity
information and authentication records of individuals.
(3) The Authority shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the information in the possession or
control of the Authority, including information stored in the Central Identities Data Repository, is secured
and protected against access, use or disclosure not permitted under this Act or regulations made
thereunder, and against accidental or intentional destruction, loss or damage.
(4) Without prejudice to sub-sections (1) and (2), the Authority shall
(a) adopt and implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures;
(b) ensure that the agencies, consultants, advisors or other persons appointed or engaged for
performing any function of the Authority under this Act, have in place appropriate technical and
organisational security measures for the information; and
(c) ensure that the agreements or arrangements entered into with such agencies, consultants,
advisors or other persons, impose obligations equivalent to those imposed on the Authority under this
Act, and require such agencies, consultants, advisors and other persons to act only on instructions
from the Authority.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, and save as
otherwise provided in this Act, the Authority or any of its officers or other employees or any agency that
maintains the Central Identities Data Repository shall not, whether during his service or thereafter, reveal
any information stored in the Central Identities Data Repository or authentication record to anyone:
Provided that an Aadhaar number holder may request the Authority to provide access to his identity
information excluding his core biometric information in such manner as may be specified by regulations.
29. Restriction on sharing information.(1) No core biometric information, collected or created
under this Act, shall be
(a) shared with anyone for any reason whatsoever; or
(b) used for any purpose other than generation of Aadhaar numbers and authentication under this
Act.
(2) The identity information, other than core biometric information, collected or created under this
Act may be shared only in accordance with the provisions of this Act and in such manner as may be
specified by regulations.

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 (3) No identity information available with a requesting entity shall be
(a) used for any purpose, other than that specified to the individual at the time of submitting any
identity information for authentication; or
(b) disclosed further, except with the prior consent of the individual to whom such information
relates.
(4) No Aadhaar number or core biometric information collected or created under this Act in respect of
an Aadhaar number holder shall be published, displayed or posted publicly, except for the purposes as
may be specified by regulations.
30. Biometric information deemed to be sensitive personal information. The biometric
information collected and stored in electronic form, in accordance with this Act and regulations made
thereunder, shall be deemed to be electronic record and sensitive personal data or information, and
the provisions contained in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) and the rules made
thereunder shall apply to such information, in addition to, and to the extent not in derogation of the
provisions of this Act.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section, the expressions
(a) electronic form shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (r) of sub-section (1)
of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(b) electronic record shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (t) of
sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
(c) sensitive personal data or information shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in
clause (iii) of the Explanation to section 43A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
31. Alteration of demographic information or biometric information.(1) In case any
demographic information of an Aadhaar number holder is found incorrect or changes subsequently, the
Aadhaar number holder shall request the Authority to alter such demographic information in his record in
the Central Identities Data Repository in such manner as may be specified by regulations.
(2) In case any biometric information of Aadhaar number holder is lost or changes subsequently for
any reason, the Aadhaar number holder shall request the Authority to make necessary alteration in his
record in the Central Identities Data Repository in such manner as may be specified by regulations.
(3) On receipt of any request under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), the Authority may, if it is
satisfied, make such alteration as may be required in the record relating to such Aadhaar number holder
and intimate such alteration to the concerned Aadhaar number holder.
(4) No identity information in the Central Identities Data Repository shall be altered except in the
manner provided in this Act or regulations made in this behalf.
32. Access to own information and records of requests for authentication.(1) The Authority
shall maintain authentication records in such manner and for such period as may be specified by
regulations.
(2) Every Aadhaar number holder shall be entitled to obtain his authentication record in such manner
as may be specified by regulations.
(3) The Authority shall not, either by itself or through any entity under its control, collect, keep or
maintain any information about the purpose of authentication.
33. Disclosure of information in certain cases.(1) Nothing contained in sub-section (2) or
sub-section (5) of section 28 or sub-section (2) of section 29 shall apply in respect of any disclosure of
information, including identity information or authentication records, made pursuant to an order of a court
not inferior to that of a District Judge:
Provided that no order by the court under this sub-section shall be made without giving an
opportunity of hearing to the Authority.

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 (2) Nothing contained in sub-section (2) or sub-section (5) of section 28 and clause (b) of sub-section
(1), sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of section 29 shall apply in respect of any disclosure of information,
including identity information or authentication records, made in the interest of national security in
pursuance of a direction of an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India
specially authorised in this behalf by an order of the Central Government:
Provided that every direction issued under this sub-section, shall be reviewed by an Oversight
Committee consisting of the Cabinet Secretary and the Secretaries to the Government of India in the
Department of Legal Affairs and the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, before it
takes effect:
Provided further that any direction issued under this sub-section shall be valid for a period of three
months from the date of its issue, which may be extended for a further period of three months after the
review by the Oversight Committee.
CHAPTER VII
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
34. Penalty for impersonation at time of enrolment.Whoever impersonates or attempts to
impersonate another person, whether dead or alive, real or imaginary, by providing any false demographic
information or biometric information, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
35. Penalty for impersonation of Aadhaar number holder by changing demographic
information or biometric information. Whoever, with the intention of causing harm or mischief to an
Aadhaar number holder, or with the intention of appropriating the identity of an Aadhaar number holder
changes or attempts to change any demographic information or biometric information of an Aadhaar
number holder by impersonating or attempting to impersonate another person, dead or alive, real or
imaginary, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall
also be liable to a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
36. Penalty for impersonation.Whoever, not being authorised to collect identity information
under the provisions of this Act, by words, conduct or demeanour pretends that he is authorised to do so,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine which
may extend to ten thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may extend to one lakh
rupees or with both.
37. Penalty for disclosing identity information. Whoever, intentionally discloses, transmits,
copies or otherwise disseminates any identity information collected in the course of enrolment or
authentication to any person not authorised under this Act or regulations made thereunder or in
contravention of any agreement or arrangement entered into pursuant to the provisions of this Act, shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine which may
extend to ten thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may extend to one lakh
rupees or with both.
38. Penalty for unauthorised access to the Central Identities Data Repository. Whoever, not
being authorised by the Authority, intentionally,
(a) accesses or secures access to the Central Identities Data Repository;
(b) downloads, copies or extracts any data from the Central Identities Data Repository or stored
in any removable storage medium;
(c) introduces or causes to be introduced any virus or other computer contaminant in the Central
Identities Data Repository;
(d) damages or causes to be damaged the data in the Central Identities Data Repository;
(e) disrupts or causes disruption of the access to the Central Identities Data Repository;
(f) denies or causes a denial of access to any person who is authorised to access the Central
Identities Data Repository;

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 (g) reveals any information in contravention of sub-section (5) of section 28, or shares, uses or
displays information in contravention of section 29 or assists any person in any of the aforementioned
acts;
(h) destroys, deletes or alters any information stored in any removable storage media or in the
Central Identities Data Repository or diminishes its value or utility or affects it injuriously by any
means; or
(i) steals, conceals, destroys or alters or causes any person to steal, conceal, destroy or alter any
computer source code used by the Authority with an intention to cause damage,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable
to a fine which shall not be less than ten lakh rupees.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section, the expressions computer contaminant, computer
virus and damage shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Explanation to
section 43 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000), and the expression computer source
code shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Explanation to section 65 of the said Act.
39. Penalty for tampering with data in Central Identities Data Repository.Whoever, not being
authorised by the Authority, uses or tampers with the data in the Central Identities Data Repository or in
any removable storage medium with the intent of modifying information relating to Aadhaar number
holder or discovering any information thereof, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
40. Penalty for unauthorised use by requesting entity.Whoever, being a requesting entity, uses
the identity information of an individual in contravention of sub-section (3) of section 8, shall be
punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to ten
thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with
both.
41. Penalty for non-compliance with intimation requirements.Whoever, being an enrolling
agency or a requesting entity, fails to comply with the requirements of sub-section (2) of section 3 or
sub-section (3) of section 8, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with
a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may
extend to one lakh rupees or with both.
42. General penalty.Whoever commits an offence under this Act or any rules or regulations made
thereunder for which no specific penalty is provided elsewhere than this section, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine which may extend to twenty-five
thousand rupees or, in the case of a company, with a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with
both.
43. Offences by companies. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a
company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible
to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed
to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any
punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or
that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act has been
committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or
connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other
officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be
guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation. For the purposes of this section
(a) company means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals;
and
(b) director, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

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 44. Act to apply for offence or contravention committed outside India. (1) Subject to the
provisions of sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act shall apply also to any offence or contravention
committed outside India by any person, irrespective of his nationality.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the provisions of this Act shall apply to any offence or
contravention committed outside India by any person, if the act or conduct constituting the offence or
contravention involves any data in the Central Identities Data Repository.
45. Power to investigate offences.Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), a police officer not below the rank of Inspector of Police shall investigate
any offence under this Act.
46. Penalties not to interfere with other punishments.No penalty imposed under this Act shall
prevent the imposition of any other penalty or punishment under any other law for the time being in force.
47. Cognizance of offences.(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under
this Act, save on a complaint made by the Authority or any officer or person authorised by it.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or a Chief Judicial Magistrate shall try
any offence punishable under this Act.
CHAPTER VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
48. Power of Central Government to supersede Authority.(1) If, at any time, the Central
Government is of the opinion,
(a) that, on account of circumstances beyond the control of the Authority, it is unable to discharge
the functions or perform the duties imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act; or
(b) that the Authority has persistently defaulted in complying with any direction given by the
Central Government under this Act or in the discharge of the functions or performance of the duties
imposed on it by or under the provisions of this Act and as a result of such default the financial
position of the Authority or the administration of the Authority has suffered; or
(c) that a public emergency exists,
the Central Government may, by notification, supersede the Authority for such period, not exceeding six
months, as may be specified in the notification and appoint a person or persons as the President may
direct to exercise powers and discharge functions under this Act:
Provided that before issuing any such notification, the Central Government shall give a reasonable
opportunity to the Authority to make representations against the proposed supersession and shall consider
the representations, if any, of the Authority.
(2) Upon the publication of a notification under sub-section (1), superseding the Authority,
(a) the Chairperson and other Members shall, as from the date of supersession, vacate their
offices as such;
(b) all the powers, functions and duties which may, by or under the provisions of this Act, be
exercised or discharged by or on behalf of the Authority shall, until the Authority is reconstituted
under sub-section (3), be exercised and discharged by the person or persons referred to in
sub-section (1); and
(c) all properties owned or controlled by the Authority shall, until the Authority is reconstituted
under sub-section (3), vest in the Central Government.
(3) On or before the expiration of the period of supersession specified in the notification issued under
sub-section (1), the Central Government shall reconstitute the Authority by a fresh appointment of its
Chairperson and other Members and in such case any person who had vacated his office under clause (a)
of sub-section (2) shall not be deemed to be disqualified for reappointment.

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 (4) The Central Government shall cause a copy of the notification issued under sub-section (1) and a
full report of any action taken under this section and the circumstances leading to such action to be laid
before each House of Parliament at the earliest.
49. Members, officers, etc., to be public servants. The Chairperson, Members, officers and other
employees of the Authority shall be deemed, while acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the
provisions of this Act, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal
Code (45 of 1860).
50. Power of Central Government to issue directions. (1) Without prejudice to the foregoing
provisions of this Act, the Authority shall, in exercise of its powers or the performance of its functions
under this Act be bound by such directions on questions of policy, as the Central Government may give,
in writing to it, from time to time:
Provided that the Authority shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity to express its views
before any direction is given under this sub-section:
Provided further that nothing in this section shall empower the Central Government to issue
directions pertaining to technical or administrative matters undertaken by the Authority.
(2) The decision of the Central Government, whether a question is one of policy or not, shall be final.
51. Delegation. The Authority may, by general or special order in writing, delegate to any
Member, officer of the Authority or any other person, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be
specified in the order, such of its powers and functions under this Act (except the power under section 54)
as it may deem necessary.
52. Protection of action taken in good faith. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall
lie against the Central Government or the Authority or the Chairperson or any Member or any officer, or
other employees of the Authority for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under
this Act or the rule or regulation made thereunder.
53. Power of Central Government to make rules. (1) The Central Government may, by
notification, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:
(a) the form and manner in which and the authority before whom the oath of office and of secrecy
is to be subscribed by the Chairperson and Members under sub-section (2) of section 14;
(b) the salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, the
Chairperson and the allowances or remuneration payable to Members of the Authority under
sub-section (4) of section 14;
(c) the other powers and functions of the Chairperson of the Authority under section 17;
(d) the other powers and functions of the Authority under clause (t) of sub-section (2) of
section 23;
(e) the form of annual statement of accounts to be prepared by Authority under sub-section (1) of
section 26;
(f) the form and the manner in which and the time within which returns and statements and
particulars are to be furnished under sub-section (1) of section 27;
(g) the form and the manner and the time at which the Authority shall furnish annual report under
sub-section (2) of section 27;
(h) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed, or in respect of which
provision is to be or may be made by rules.

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 54. Power of Authority to make regulations. (1) The Authority may, by notification, make
regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder, for carrying out the provisions of this
Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may
provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:
(a) the biometric information under clause (g) and the demographic information under clause (k),
and the process of collecting demographic information and biometric information from the
individuals by enrolling agencies under clause (m) of section 2;
(b) the manner of verifying the demographic information and biometric information for issue of
Aadhaar number under sub-section (3) of section 3;
(c) the conditions for accepting an Aadhaar number as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number
holder under sub-section (3) of section 4;
(d) the other categories of individuals under section 5 for whom the Authority shall take special
measures for allotment of Aadhaar number;
(e) the manner of updating biometric information and demographic information under
section 6;
(f) the procedure for authentication of the Aadhaar number under section 8;
(g) the other functions to be performed by the Central Identities Data Repository under
section 10;
(h) the time and places of meetings of the Authority and the procedure for transaction of business
to be followed by it, including the quorum, under sub-section (1) of section 19;
(i) the salary and allowances payable to, and other terms and conditions of service of, the chief
executive officer, officers and other employees of the Authority under sub-section (2) of section 21;
(j) the demographic information and biometric information under clause (a) and the manner of
their collection under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(k) the manner of maintaining and updating the information of individuals in the Central
Identities Data Repository under clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(l) the manner of omitting and deactivating an Aadhaar number and information relating thereto
under clause (g) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(m) the manner of use of Aadhaar numbers for the purposes of providing or availing of various
subsidies, benefits, services and other purposes for which Aadhaar numbers may be used under clause
(h) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(n) the terms and conditions for appointment of Registrars, enrolling agencies and other service
providers and the revocation of appointments thereof under clause (i) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(o) the manner of sharing information of Aadhaar number holder under clause (k) of
sub-section (2) of section 23;
(p) various processes relating to data management, security protocol and other technology
safeguards under clause (m) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(q) the procedure for issuance of new Aadhaar number to existing Aadhaar number holder under
clause (n) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(r) manner of authorising Registrars, enrolling agencies or other service providers to collect such
fees for services provided by them under clause (o) of sub-section (2) of section 23;
(s) policies and practices to be followed by the Registrar, enrolling agencies and other service
providers under clause (r) of sub-section (2) of section 23;

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 (t) the manner of accessing the identity information by the Aadhaar number holder under the
proviso to sub-section (5) of section 28;
(u) the manner of sharing the identity information, other than core biometric information,
collected or created under this Act under sub-section (2) of section 29;
(v) the manner of alteration of demographic information under sub-section (1) and biometric
information under sub-section (2) of section 31;
(w) the manner of and the time for maintaining the request for authentication and the response
thereon under sub-section (1), and the manner of obtaining, by the Aadhaar number holder, the
authentication records under sub-section (2) of section 32;
(x) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, specified, or in respect of which provision
is to be or may be made by regulations.
55. Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament. Every rule and every regulation made
under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it
is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more
successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the
successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation, or
both the Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter
have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under
that rule or regulation.
56. Application of other laws not barred. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and
not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.
57. Act not to prevent use of Aadhaar number for other purposes under law. Nothing
contained in this Act shall prevent the use of Aadhaar number for establishing the identity of an
individual for any purpose, whether by the State or any body corporate or person, pursuant to any law, for
the time being in force, or any contract to this effect:
Provided that the use of Aadhaar number under this section shall be subject to the procedure and
obligations under section 8 and Chapter VI.
58. Power to remove difficulties. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of
this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as may appear to be necessary for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of three years from the
commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each
House of Parliament.
59. Savings.Anything done or any action taken by the Central Government under the Resolution of
the Government of India, Planning Commission bearing notification number A-43011/02/2009-Admin. I,
dated the 28th January, 2009, or by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology under the
Cabinet Secretariat Notification bearing notification number S.O. 2492(E), dated the 12th September,
2015, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have been validly done or taken under this Act.

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