Plastic or PVC Aadhaar Smart Card is not usable: UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on February 6, 2018 clarified that the plastic or PVC Aadhaar Smart Cards are not usable as the QR code mentioned on them usually becomes dysfunctional during printing.

Moreover, there could be a possibility that through such plastic cards, the Aadhaar details might be shared easily with unreliable elements without informed consent.

Directions given by UIDAI
• UIDAI also made clear that Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded versions of Aadhaar on ordinary paper or mAadhaar are perfectly valid.

• People should not look out for Aadhaar smart card as it's just a trick of some unscrupulous elements to print Aadhaar on a plastic/PVC sheet and charge anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 300 or more. In actual, there is no concept of smart or plastic Aadhaar card.

• In case a person loses his Aadhaar card, he can download his Aadhaar card free of cost from https://eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.

• Even the print out of the downloaded Aadhaar card, be it in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar letter sent by UIDAI. There is in fact no need to even get it laminated.

UIDAI also warned the unauthorized agencies to discontinue the practice of collecting Aadhaar information from general public for printing of Aadhaar card as collecting such information amounts to a punishable criminal offence under Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Aadhaar Act, 2016.