IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirms a new Aadhaar law is on the way. It will align with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 to better protect user data.
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NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has said that a new law for Aadhaar will be made soon, and it will be in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023.
He explained that this step is being taken to keep the interests of common people at the centre of the law.
The Minister said,
“The new Aadhaar law will be harmonised with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, keeping user interest at the centre.”
He pointed out that when the Aadhaar Act was first made, there were many legal loopholes and missing points in the law. But now, with new digital laws like the DPDP Act, the government has covered those gaps.
He added,
“There were several gaps in the legal structure when the Aadhaar Act was enacted, but today, those gaps have been filled.”
Ashwini Vaishnaw also talked about the importance of creating a modern version of the Aadhaar Act. This new version will focus mainly on users, especially their data privacy and protection. He said the aim is to build a strong legal system that respects people’s personal data and ensures it is handled in the right way.
He clearly stated,
“The focus of this government is to bring transformative changes in the lives of poor and middle-class people.”
The new Aadhaar law will not only work together with the DPDP Act but also help in strengthening India’s digital systems. It will make sure that Aadhaar continues to be a safe and trusted digital ID for millions of Indians, while also protecting their data in line with modern privacy rules.
This step shows the government’s commitment to making India a digitally strong and legally secure country, where people’s privacy and digital rights are respected and protected through updated laws.
What is the Aadhaar Law in India Right Now?
The Aadhaar law in India is called the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
This law explains how Aadhaar works, how it is used, and how the personal data of people is protected.
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Key Points of the Current Aadhaar Law
1. What is Aadhaar?
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number given by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). It is based on a person’s biometric data (fingerprints and iris scan) and demographic data (like name, age, address, etc.).
2. Why Aadhaar was Made?
Aadhaar was created to make sure that government subsidies, benefits, and services reach the right people, especially the poor. It helps to remove fake or duplicate identities.
3. Voluntary but Sometimes Mandatory
- The Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar is not mandatory for everything, but it can be made mandatory for getting government subsidies and welfare schemes.
- You don’t need Aadhaar for school admission, mobile SIM, or bank account, but you might need it for schemes like LPG subsidy, PDS ration, etc.
4. Who Manages Aadhaar?
UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) is the main authority that handles Aadhaar. It works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
5. Data Protection and Privacy
The Aadhaar Act includes rules about data protection, but many experts have said that the law needs to be stronger, especially now that India has the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
6. Punishments for Misuse
If someone misuses Aadhaar data, there are fines and jail terms mentioned under the law. UIDAI can also take action against such misuse.
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