Aadhaar was used as Proof of Identity, Proof of Address and date of Birth. Now you can use Aadhaar for electronic Know your Customer (eKYC) or electronic Signature(e Sign). Aadhaar eKYC initiated by the Government of India allows citizens to sign any document remotely. Anyone with a valid Aadhaar card and a registered mobile number can use this service for OTP to be generated and sign documents or fulfill Know your Customer(requirements) from anywhere, anytime. This article talks about Aadhar used for eKYC and eSign in applying for PAN, opening NPS account, doing eKYC for investing in Mutual Funds, buying Insurance Policy Online. 

Aadhaar eKYC,eSign

Aadhaar was used as Proof of Identity, Proof of Address and date of Birth. Now you can use it for electronic Know your Customer (eKYC) or electronic Signature(e Sign). If you have an Aadhaar number, you can opt for e-KYC or eSign. Anyone with a valid Aadhaar card and a registered mobile number can use this service to sign documents from anywhere, anytime.  Give your Aadhaar number and an OTP authenticates you. In 2016, Aadhaar enrolment figures crossed 1 billion, making it the largest biometric database in the world—and the foundation for India’s digital transformation.  Our article What is Aadhaar, How to enrol,Check Aadhaar status,Download e Aadhaar talks about how to get Aadhaar.

• Aadhaar and PAN The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a circular dated 22 July 2016,  said that a new permanent account number (PAN) card can be applied for online, using an application form that can be e-signed using the Aadhaar linked e-signature.
• Aadhar and eNPS: Now you can open eNPS account using Aadhar KYC. The completely online process is based on Aadhar verification which is possible provided your mobile number is linked to Aadhar card.
• Aadhaar and Investments in Mutual Funds SEBI circular currently permits investment of Rs 50,000 per Financial Year per Mutual Fund for Aadhaar based eKYC using OTP verification. Once you enter your Aadhaar number, you will get a one-time password (OTP) on your mobile number. Once you enter this, you are said to be KYC-compliant and you are good to invest.
• Aadhar and Buy Insurance Policy Online You can buy a policy online using Aadhaar eKYC
• Aadhaar and Mobile: From Aug 2016 Aadhaar-based authentication APIs power subscriber enrolment in telecom companies, allowing them to deploy e-KYC (know your customer) solutions that rely on biometrics instead of documents to verify identity. It is estimated that this has reduced the cost from Rs1,500 per subscriber to just Rs 10. Customers can now walk in with their AADHAR card to get new mobile connections with instant activations, following an approval from the government, which cleared electronic-Know Your Customer (e-KYC) rules using the card.

Apply PAN Online using Aadhaar

New online PAN application facility has been launched for PAN applicants with an option of paperless submission of application using Aadhaar based e-Sign

Applicant can select any one of the following options while filling online PAN application: Submit Digitally through e-KYC and e-Sign(paperless), Submit Scanned images through e-Sign, Forward application documents Physically

To avail e-Sign,e-KYC  Aadhaar is mandatory and details given in Aadhaar should match PAN application

• Submit Scanned images through e-Sign, an applicant needs to upload scanned images (as per defined parameters) of photo, signature and supporting documents while applying.
• Submit Digitally through e-KYC and e-Sign(paperless):  no need to upload Photo, sign and scanned images. photograph used in Aadhaar card would be used in PAN card as well.
• Forward application documents Physically: Old process of sending documents physically

Open eNPS account using Aadhar KYC

Till Dec 2016 an NPS account could be opened online via eNPS portal but the printout of the application submitted online had to be sent to the PFRDA’s Central Recordkeeping Agency
(CRA) to open the account. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued a circular dated December 15th, 2016 directing that in the case of NPS accounts being opened online on the basis of Aadhar verification followed by esignature, a physical printout of the application need not be sent.

There are two ways to open an NPS account. One method has now been made totally online and the other method is partially online and partially physical. The completely online process is based on Aadhar verification which is possible provided your mobile number is linked to Aadhar card. The steps in this fully online process are:

•  Click on the Registration and select ‘register with Aadhar’ Option.
• Enter the Aadhar Number and click on “Generate OTP” option
• The OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number linked to Aadhar Card.
• Enter the OTP number and fill in your personal details, Nomination details, bank details.
• On the ‘Photograph and Signature’ tab, your photograph will be shown same as on the Aadhar card. Upload your signature in the ‘jpeg’ format.
• Click on the ‘e­signature’ option. Once again the OTP will be generated and sent to your mobile number.
• Enter the OTP to verify your signature and make payment.

Once the application is successfully submitted, your PRAN will be allotted instantly

Aadhar eKYC and Mutual Funds

KYC completion, a mandatory requirement for investing in MFs, involved submission of paper forms, ID and address and proofs and In Person Verification (IPV). SEBI  allowed eKYC, or “electronic Know Your Customer” process in 2013, whereby investors could submit the KYC requirements online. A few Mutual Funds launched acceptance of Aadhaar as ID and address proof followed by video-based IPV for authentication and verification purpose. The eKYC makes the entire procedure paperless and, hence, more convenient for investors while cutting down the verification time drastically The objectives of eKYC are to

• reduce the turnaround time for customer verification, which used to take anywhere between one and three weeks with the existing KYC process, which requires documents in hard copy format.
• Mutual fund penetration with citizens, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 towns can be accelerated with Aadhaar-based eKYC.
• The younger generation who prefer digital experience can start investing with a complete digital solution for instant account opening.
• A person with eKYC verification can invest up to Rs 50,000 per year in a mutual fund, which comes to a SIP of around 4,000 per month. If you want to invest higher than 50,000 annually, you have to go through normal route of KYC compliance and appear for IPV.
• Note: The details such as address registered as per Aadhaar would be captured as the address for your KYC. If there is any change in Personal Details while applying for eKYC, you need to get that fixed from UIDAI and then apply for eKYC.

Note: The e-KYC facility is only for those who have not initiated KYC enrollment yet. For those who have already initiated or are KYC compliant, there is no need of the process

eKYC is an online and paperless Aadhaar card based process for fulfilling KYC requirements to start investing in Mutual Funds without submission of any documents.The following image shows the difference between Normal KYC and eKYC using Aadhaar

You must have below information to get started : Aadhaar Number, PAN Number, Mobile Number, Email-Id.

Process of using Aadhar for eKYC

• Enter your Aadhaar number and required details
• Submit your details. UIDAI will generate an OTP which will be sent your registered mobile number with UIDAI
• Enter OTP and your web form will get auto-populated with your Aadhaar data.
• Fill required fields and submit the form

Aadhaar eKYC and buy Insurance Policy Online

The process of buying insurance policies online has become simpler as the regulator, IRDA allowed for one-time password (OTP) to be used for authentication(Ref  http://bit.ly/2crzpHA )

When you buy an insurance policy online, you need to give your details. For instance, when you buy a term plan online, you start by filling up a proposal form. A proposal form seeks all the relevant information from you, such as your personal details, financial details, information about nominee and your health record. Along with the form, you also need to submit know your customer (KYC) documents such as address and identity proofs. There are two ways of doing this.

• If you have an Aadhaar number, you can opt for e-KYC. Give your Aadhaar number and an OTP authenticates you. The insurer can process the KYC details from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) database.
• The other option is to submit the KYC documents. Insurers allow you to scan and upload these. Once KYC is done, the process of underwriting starts.

Whether you are buying insurance online or offline, insurers will now have to offer digital policies for big-ticket covers.  These policies can either be issued by the insurer, emailed to you as a PDF document that is digitally signed by the insurer, or sent to your e-insurance account. If the insurer sends you the e-policy directly, it will still have to send you the physical policy documents. If you get the policy in your demat account, then the insurer does not have to send you a hard copy.

• With life plans, for instance, if annual premium is Rs10,000 or more, or the sum assured is Rs1 lakh (Rs10 lakh for pure term plans), the insurer has to issue e-policies.
• In the case of motor insurance, all policies have to be issued electronically.
• For life plans, if annual premium is more than Rs.10,000, or the sum assured is Rs.1 lakh (Rs.10 lakh for pure term plans), the insurer has to issue e-policies.
• For non-life policies—barring health, motor and travel insurance—electronic policies are mandatory if premium is more than Rs.5,000 or the sum insured is Rs.10 lakh or more.
• For health insurance, the premium or sum insured thresholds are Rs.10,000 and Rs.5 lakh, respectively.
• For personal accident and domestic travel insurance, this limit is Rs.5,000, or a sum insured exceeding Rs.10 lakh.

Aadhaar useful for Government Process

For the year 2017, CBSE has changed the eligibility requirement a bit for filling up the JEE Main application forms. According to the official website of JEE Main 2017, aspirants planning to take the exam should hold an Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI. Candidates from Assam, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir would not require an Aadhaar Card to fill JEE Main 2017 application forms.

• Acquisition of Passport : Obtaining a passport includes getting an appointment with the authorities, processing your application, dispatching of the passport and police verification checks. It usually takes multiple weeks to complete all processes and avail a passport, but thanks to the increased uses of an Aadhar Card, passports can now be availed by applicants within 10 days. Individuals who wish to obtain a passport can apply for the same online by simply attaching their Aadhaar Card as the only residence and identity proof along with their application. Within three days of submission, you will receive an appointment and the processing and dispatching of the passport will be complete within seven days. Police verification checks will then be scheduled for a later date.
• Opening Bank Accounts Aadhaar can be used for KYC, identification and verification purposes. Financial institutions and banks consider Aadhaar Cards as valid address and photo ID proofs during the time of opening a bank account.
• Digital Life Certificate The ‘Jeevan Praman for Pensioners’ or the Digital Life certificate as it is also called, was initiated by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. The aim of the certificate was to abolish the need for the pensioner to be physically present in order to receive pension for the continuation of their scheme. Pensioners can now avail pension without having to leave their homes as their details can be digitally accessed by the agency through their Aadhar Card numbers.
• Receipt of Monthly Pension The benefits provided by an Aadhaar Card can be availed by retired government officials too. The Aadhar Card numbers of pensioners will have to be registered with their respective departments so that timely pension payments can be received.
• Jan Dhan Yojna : The Jan Dhan Yojna accepts Aadhaar Card Number as the only document for the opening of a bank account.
• Provident Fund : Individuals who link their Aadhar Card to their Pension Accounts can have their provident fund disbursed directly to their accounts through their PF organisation.
• LPG Subsidy : The Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer is followed by the LPG subsidy wherein the distributor for your particular area will link your Aadhar Card with your LPG connection and will be able to reach your bank account directly through the 12-digit unique identification number.

Is Aadhaar mandatory?

Is the Aadhar Card mandatory for the citizens of India? Well, no. But it’s mighty handy to have. Aadhaar has been linked to gas connections, Voter ID, PAN card, and bank accounts. What is noteworthy in this context are two interim orders passed by the Supreme Court on August 11, 2015, and October 10, 2015.

The order of August 11, 2015, states that obtaining Aadhaar shall not be mandatory. It states the following:

1. The Union of India shall give wide publicity in the electronic and print media including radio and television networks that it is not mandatory for a citizen to obtain an Aadhaar card

2. The production of an Aadhaar card will not be condition for obtaining any benefits otherwise due to a citizen;

However, the order also clarifies that Aadhaar can be “used” by the Centre for PDS scheme and LPG distribution scheme. “The Unique Identification Number or the Aadhaar card will not be used by the respondents for any purpose other than the PDS Scheme and in particular for the purpose of distribution of foodgrains, etc. and cooking fuel, such as kerosene. The Aadhaar card may also be used for the purpose of the LPG Distribution Scheme.”

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•  What is Aadhaar, How to enrol,Check Aadhaar status,Download e Aadhaar
• JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile number
• Digital India
• Know Your Customer or KYC
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Reasons to get an Aadhar Card Aadhaar card is a widely accepted form of identification. Even though it is not mandatory, an Aadhar card can qualify you instantly, making the process easier and quicker.