GUWAHATI, April 16 - The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has cautioned people not to fall to the ploys of unscrupulous entities who are charging anywhere between Rs 50 and Rs 200 for printing Aadhaar on a plastic card in the name of Smart card, as the Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded version of Aadhaar on ordinary paper is perfectly valid.
Some entities have also been charging far more for simply laminating the downloaded version of Aadhaar.
�The Aadhaar card or the downloaded Aadhaar card printed on ordinary paper is perfectly valid for all uses. If a person has a paper Aadhaar card, there is absolutely no need to get his/her Aadhaar card laminated or obtain a plastic Aadhaar card or so called Smart Aadhaar card by paying money. There is no concept such as Smart Aadhaar card,� Director General & Mission Director of UIDAI, Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey told The Assam Tribune.
In case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download it free of cost from https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/. The printout of the downloaded Aadhaar, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI. There is absolutely no need to print it on plastic card or get it laminated.
�In case a person still wants to get his Aadhaar card laminated or printed on plastic card, he may do so only at authorised Common Service Centres or Aadhaar Permanent Enrolment Centres by paying no more than the prescribed rate, which is not more than Rs 30,� Dr Pandey added.
The public, for protection of their privacy, are advised not to share their Aadhaar number or personal details with unauthorised agencies for getting it laminated, or printed on plastic card.
UIDAI authorities also asked e-commerce companies such E-bay, Flipkart, Amazon etc., not to allow their merchants to collect Aadhaar information from general public for printing Aadhaar card, as collecting such information or unauthorised printing of Aadhaar card or aiding such persons in any manner may amount to a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code and also Chapter VI of The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
