Aadhaar
Identity vs. Residence vs. Citizenship
Aadhaar is governed by the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016. It is a 12-digit biometric-linked identifier assigned to any resident (not only citizens) who has lived in India for at least 182 days in the 12 months preceding enrolment.
- Aadhaar is explicitly a proof of identity and residence — the UIDAI Act and UIDAI's own communications make clear it is not a citizenship document.
- Non-citizens — including long-term visa holders and OCI card holders — can obtain Aadhaar.
- The Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018) upheld Aadhaar's constitutionality while reinforcing privacy as a fundamental right and limiting mandatory Aadhaar linkage to government welfare schemes.
● Tracked since February 09, 2026 · last seen June 25, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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