An Act no. 18 of 2016 i.e. the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act is enacted with the basic aim and object to make provisions for the efficient, transparent and targeted delivery of the subsidies, benefits and services which is drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India to the individuals in India. The Act for this purpose has decided to assign the Unique Identity Numbers to such individuals. And all such provisions under this Act are sought to be made for the Good Governance, as specified in the long title to this Act. The present Act was earlier introduced as ‘money bill’, and when it gets passed, it was given assent by the President of India on 25th day of March, 2016.
The important legislation is containing, in total eight chapters, and all the provisions herein are divided into such chapters and first of which is making preliminary provisions like specifying short title, extension, etc. The provisions of this Act desired to be extended to the whole of India, but the State of Jammu and Kashmir is exempted. Moreover, the provisions herein are also sought to be applied to the offences and contravention under this Act, if committed outside India also.
The Section chapter is also important as it is making provisions for the enrolment of the Indian resident to get the Aadhaar Number. Moreover, the third chapter specifies that the Governments will be entitled to demand the Aadhaar number for the authentication of the individual, so that the benefits and subsidies, which are drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India, can be extended to such individual. Moreover, it is also confirmed that the Aadhaar number will not be treated as evident of domicile or nationality of holder.
Besides, the present Act is also providing for the establishment, composition, etc. of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which will be responsible for the process of enrolment and authentication and will also be responsible to perform such other functions under this Act. Section 23 of this Act provides for the list of powers and functions for this authority. Sixth chapter in this Act is one of the most important part, as it is dealing with the protection of information as to identity. However, there are two situations in which such information can be revealed, first in the Interest of National Security, and secondly upon an order of the Court.
The Act, besides such substantive provisions also provide for the other important provisions dealing with the offences and penalties under this Act. Unauthorized access to the centralized data- base, including revealing any information stored in it, punishable with imprisonment upto three years and fine many be Ten lakh rupees. The complaint is to the made by the authority or persona authorized in this behalf, for taking cognizance of any offence under this Act.
Download & Read the Bare Act: The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016