Centre sets no new deadline to link Aadhaar with bank accounts

The government on Friday extended the deadline to link Aadhar with PAN from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018. (File Photo)

The Centre on Wednesday extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to bank accounts indefinitely. Earlier, it had set December 31 as the last date for linking the Unique Identification Number to bank accounts.

A notification issued on Tuesday by the Finance Ministry’s revenue department said the new deadline would be notified by the Central government after due consultations.

The announcement comes after the government on Friday extended the deadline to link Aadhar with PAN from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018. Sources said over 14 crore PANs have been linked with Aadhaar  till now, which is about 41 per cent of total 33 crore cards issued by the Income Tax department. About 115 crore people have Aadhaar cards.

The Ministry of Finance notification issued on Tuesday.Meanwhile, a five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is likely to hear a clutch of petitions challenging the Centre’s move to make Aadhaar mandatory to avail government schemes and welfare measures on Thursday.

On August 24, a nine-judge Constitution bench ruled that privacy is a fundamental right, subject to reasonable restrictions. It had observed, “The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution.” The verdict is likely to impact on the Aadhaar case before the five-judge bench.

The deadline for the enrollment of Aadhaar in various schemes and services so far is:

Re-verification of mobile number using Aadhar
Department:Ministry of Finance
Last Date: February 6, 2018 (in view of the Supreme Court’s February 6, 2017 order)

Linking of Aadhar with PAN cards
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: March 31, 2018

Linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Linking of Aadhaar with mutual fund investments
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: Deferred indefinitely

Linking of Aadhaar with insurance policies
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Linking of Aadhaar with demat accounts
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Linking of Aadhaar with credit cards
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

New and existing post office schemes
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

New and existing National Savings Certificate accounts
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

New and existing Public Provident Fund accounts
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

New and existing Kisan Vikas Patra accounts
Department: Ministry of Finance
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Central Sector Scholarship Scheme for College and University Students
Department: Ministry of Human Resource Development
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Availing of subsidy under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Department: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Employees’ Pension Scheme
Department: Ministry of Labour and Employment
Last Date: December 31, 2017

Availing crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Department: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Last Date: December 31, 2017