AADHAAR

• The Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• It contains biometric information, such as fingerprints and iris scans, along with demographic information, including individuals' addresses and date of birth.
• The Aadhaar card serves as proof of identity and is valid anywhere in India for identification purposes. Having an Aadhaar card is compulsory while applying for a new PAN card or filing Income tax returns.
•  However, it can be used as a single identification document. Banks, financial institutions and telecom companies can also use it as a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification
  mode and maintain profiles. 

• Any Indian resident irrespective of his/her gender and age can enroll for an Aadhaar card.
• As per the Aadhaar Act 2016, Indian citizens need to reside in the country for 182 days or more in the year preceding the date of enrolment.
• Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are not eligible for an Aadhaar card. If NRIs and foreigners satisfy the minimum duration of stay as per the aforementioned Act, they can apply for an Aadhaar card.
• Minors, too, can apply for an Aadhaar card. Children under the age of 5 will get the Blue Colour Aadhaar, which needs to be updated after they become 5 years old.

• Masked Aadhaar is similar to a regular Aadhaar with the difference that the Aadhaar number is partially hidden.
• Only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number are visible and the rest are crossed.
• It means replacing the first eight digits with some characters like 'xxxx-xxxx' while only the last four digits of the original number are visible.
• Other details on the Aadhaar card remain the same such as the name, date of birth, gender, address, and QR code.
• One can download an Aadhaar card easily online.

The Supreme Court ruled that Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for welfare schemes, and the government has announced its implementation for several programs, causing confusion and raising concerns. 

Schemes Where Aadhaar is Mandatory

• Beedi/Iron Ore/Limestone workers' house subsidy
• Supplementary nutrition program
• Crop insurance and subsidized foodgrains/cash subsidy for farmers
• Integrated Dept. of Horticulture, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and Janani Suraksha Yojana benefits
• Training under Integrated Child Development Services
• Grih Kalyan Kendra scheme benefits
• National Mission for Empowerment of Women, Scheme for Adolescent Women, Central scholarships, and National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship
• e-Panchayat training benefits and central college scholarships
• Soil Health Management and Card Schemes
• Supplementary meals at creches
• Maternity Benefit Programme and Integrated Child Protection Scheme
• Vocational training, loans, and other schemes for women
• Water and social services benefits under Research and Development in Water Sector and National Social Assistance Program
• Mid Day meal benefits (including cooks-cum-helpers)
• Deendayal Antyodya Yojana and National Rural Livelihoods Mission
• Benefits for disabled children under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

• Booking tickets on the Indian Railways online platform (IRCTC)
• Filing Income Tax returns or applying for PAN (linking PAN with Aadhaar mandatory)

4. Concerns and Implications

• This contradicts the Supreme Court's ruling, raising concerns about legal challenges and potential violation of individual rights.
• Exclusion of beneficiaries who lack Aadhaar or face difficulties registering could defeat the schemes' intended purpose.
• Privacy and data security issues remain, as Aadhaar integration expands.