Govt makes Aadhaar card must for post office deposits, PPF, NSC, KVP

 


New Delhi: The government has made biometric identification Aadhaar mandatory for all post office deposits, and Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC) and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) deposits.

Existing depositors have been given time till 31 December 2017 to provide the 12-digit unique identification number.

The ministry of finance has issued four separate gazette notifications making Aadhaar mandatory for opening all post office deposit accounts, and PPF, NSC and KVP deposits.

“Provided that where Aadhaar number has not been assigned, the depositor shall submit proof of application of enrolment for Aadhaar,” the notification dated 29 September said. Existing depositors who have not provided Aadhaar number at the time of application for such deposit “shall submit his Aadhaar number to the post office savings bank or deposit office concerned, on or before December 31, 2017,” it added.


The government has insisted on quoting Aadhaar for bank deposits, obtaining mobile phone and several other utilities to weed out benami deals and blackmoney. Last month, it extended the deadline for obtaining Aadhaar for availing government schemes and subsidies by three months to 31 December.

Earlier, those who did not have Aadhaar were asked to procure it by 30 September. As many as 135 schemes (of 35 ministries) including the free cooking gas (LPG) to poor women, kerosene and fertiliser subsidy, targeted public distribution system (PDS) and MGNREGA will be covered by the extension.

“As a result of the review of welfare schemes covered and to provide the benefits of such schemes to all eligible beneficiaries of the scheme, it has been decided to further extend the stipulated date in all such notifications up to December 31, 2017,” an order dated 26 September said.

The extension would also apply for Employees’ Pension Scheme of 1995, scholarships, housing subsidy benefit, stipend to SC/ST trainees for coaching guidance and vocational training, stipend to handicapped and Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana.