Linking Aadhaar with mobile number, PAN and bank accounts is mandatory and there is no way you can get around it as of now. The government has already provided many extensions to the deadline for Aadhaar linkage and it is unlikely that it would offer any more leeway in terms of time.
If you have ignored previous deadlines and are yet to link Aadhaar with services, you should get down it now.
Here are the services that need to be linked with Aadhaar and the steps involved:
PAN
The government last week extended the deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN by three months to March 31, 2018 from the earlier December 31, 2017.
The government is likely to cancel all PANs that have not been linked to the 12-digit biometric identity to eliminate duplicate or bogus PAN cards.
Linking PAN with Aadhaar is necessary for filing your tax returns.
To link Aadhaar with PAN:
* Log on to the Income Tax department's e-filing portal --www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.
* Enter your Aadhaar and PAN number, your name as mentioned in Aadhaar Card and the captcha code.
* Click the 'Link Aadhaar' button.
Mobile
Your mobile number needs to be necessarily linked to your Aadhaar as per government rules.
February 6, 2018, is the deadline to link your Aadhaar with your mobile number. Mobile numbers not linked to Aadhaar by February 6, 2018 will not be deactivated immediately because the DoT is awaiting Supreme Court verdict.
But if judgement goes to DoT’s favour, deactivation is much on cards.
The linking can be done at a store or a service centre of a service provider. You can alternatively call customer service to know the process.
Post January 1, telecom service providers will allow you to do the same through IVR and one-time password modes.
Bank accounts
Make sure your bank accounts are linked with your Aadhaar by December 31, 2017. Ignoring it will result in the bank account being ceased from operation till you submit the data.
Services like cash withdrawals, funds transfer or other financial instruments will not be available.
You can link your Aadhaar by either visiting your bank branch and submitting a copy of your Aadhaar card, or electronically through Internet or mobile banking facilities.
For all purposes, it is advisable to visit your bank once to confirm the process and ensure that it is correctly done.
Mutual fund
You need to seed your Aadhaar number with your mutual fund folios latest by December 31, 2017. Failure to link Aadhaar with mutual fund investments by the stipulated deadline can bar you from transferring your fund folios.
As most of these services are already linked to your PAN, your investment agent could easily get it done for you.
CAMS and Karvy are already alerting clients with mutual funds to seed their Aadhaar number.
If you haven't received it yet, you can initiate the process from your end.
Insurance policies
You also need to link Aadhaar to your insurance policies. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has made it mandatory for all policyholders to link their Aadhaar and PAN details to their insurance policies.
You can log on to the website or visit the customer service department of your insurance provider.
In most cases, you are only required to provide your policy number and date of birth for the verification.
Once verified, you will be asked to update your Aadhaar number. LIC, SBI Life Insurance, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Max Life Insurance offer online Aadhaar linking services.
Social Security Schemes
To avail social security and welfare schemes provided by the government, you need to provide your Aadhaar details to concerned authorities by December 31, 2017.
Such schemes comprise the subsidy on LPG cylinders, educational scholarships and so on.
These schemes can be linked online and offline.
PPF, NSC, Post office schemes
Updating Aadhaar details by December 31, 2017 is mandatory for users of Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), and Kisan Vikas Patra, etc. Those who do not have an Aadhaar card or Aadhaar number till now can submit the enrollment identity number of their Aadhaar application.
Aadhaar linking is mandatory for opening or holding a Post Office account or investing in small savings schemes like NSC and PPF. To do this, log on to the India Post website, download the Aadhaar linkage form, fill it up and submit it to the post office where you hold an account.
