Retirement fund body EPFO has stopped accepting Aadhaar card as a valid proof for date of birth (DoB), complying with a specific direction from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Aadhaar Not Deemed as DoB Proof
In December 2022, UIDAI had clearly conveyed to EPFO that Aadhaar cannot be considered as a proof of date of birth under the governing 2016 Aadhaar Act.
It highlighted that while Aadhaar serves as a unique identity for individuals, it does not qualify as a DoB proof by law. A 2018 MeitY order stating the same was also cited.
This key aspect has been repeatedly stressed by different High Courts in recent judgements as well. Hence based on UIDAI’s observations, EPFO has struck down Aadhaar from acceptable DoB proofs.
Other Valid Documents Retained
As per a EPFO circular in August 2022, the other documents deemed valid for establishing DoB continue to remain:
- Birth certificate issued by municipal authorities
- Academic marksheets
- School leaving or transfer certificates
- Central/State government service records
- PAN card issued by Income Tax Department
- Central/State pension payment orders
- Health insurance cards like CGHS, ECHS
The removal of Aadhaar as DoB proof applies to both existing and new EPFO members. It will likely pose challenges for informal workers lacking the other officially valid documents.
With ever improving digital governance frameworks, inter-departmental integration can enable seamless exchange of identification data between EPFO and UIDAI in future.
