The Indian government is considering issuing Aadhaar card to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) without waiting for a mandatory period of 180 days.
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her maiden budget speech in the Indian Parliament on Friday announced the government was considering removing the rule of living in the country for 180 days for NRIs who want an Aadhaar card.
“I propose to consider issuing Aadhaar Card for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) with Indian passports after their arrival in India, without waiting for mandatory 180 days,” Ms Sitharaman said.
India’s Aadhaar card or the Unique Identification Number (UID) is the 12-digit identity number based on biometric data.
As per the current rules, every Indian resident is entitled to obtain an Aadhaar number by submitting his demographic information and biometric information.
The Aadhaar Act defines residency as, "An individual who has resided in India for a period or periods amounting in all to 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment."
The Indian government has now proposed to do away with this rule for NRIs with Indian passports.
This is expected to ease financial transactions and filing income tax returns for NRIs.
Details of the proposal are yet to be disclosed but the announcement was welcomed on social media.
How to get Aadhaar card?
Step 2: Fix an appointment online or visit the enrolment centre directly.
Step 3: Carry photocopies of documents such as resident proof, birth certificate and PAN card along with the Aadhaar card application form. Give all the copies to the official at the centre.
Step 4: The official at the enrolment centre will take your biometric details (through fingerprint and iris scans).
Step 5: The Aadhaar official will then give you an acknowledgement slip containing the Enrolment ID which you can use for tracking the status of your application.
