Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has asked citizens to stay away from shops/vendors who make plastic or PVC Aadhaar smart cards.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, UIDAI said that most of the time such cards are not usable because QR code often becomes dysfunctional during unauthorised printing at these shops. The authority also warned that there could be possibility that the details of the card holder might be shared, without the informed consent, with some devious elements.
“So-called Aadhaar Smart card is totally unnecessary and a waste as during such printing its QR code often becomes dysfunctional. The Aadhaar card or the downloaded Aadhaar card printed on ordinary paper or mAadhaar is perfectly valid for all kind of uses,” said Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI.
He added, 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 or plastic Aadhaar card.
UIDAI reiterated that Aadhaar letter or its cutaway portion or downloaded versions of Aadhaar on ordinary paper or mAadhaar are perfectly valid and people should not yearn for the so-called Aadhaar smart card as it may make them fall to the ploys of some unscrupulous elements who are printing Aadhaar on a plastic/PVC sheet and charging anywhere between ₹50 and ₹300 or more.
Pandey also advised people to not share their Aadhaar number or personal details to unauthorised agencies for getting it laminated, or printed on plastic card.