EPFO removes Aadhaar from list of acceptable documents for proof for updation/correction of DOB

Jan 17, 2024

Synopsis
EPFO update: EPFO has announced that Aadhaar has been removed from the list of acceptable documents for proof of date of birth (DoB) for correction, updation purposes.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which is part of India's Ministry of Labour and Employment, announced that Aadhaar has been removed from the list of acceptable documents for proof of date of birth (DoB) for correction, updation purposes.

In this connection, a letter has been received from UIDAI (copy attached), wherein it has been stated that use of Aadhaar, as a proof of DoB needs to be deleted from the list of acceptable documents. Accordingly, the Aadhaar is being removed from the list of acceptable documents for correction in date of birth as mentioned in Table-B of Annexure -1 of the JD SOP under reference,” stated an EPFO circular from January 16, 2024.

Documents needed to change DOB in EPF account

According to an EPFO circular issued on August 2023, here are the other documents required to change Date of Birth (DoB):

1. Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
2. Marksheet issued by any recognized Government Board or University. School Leaving Certificate (SLC)/ School Transfer Certificate (TC)/ SSC certificate containing Name and Date of Birth
3. Certificate based on the service records of the Central/State Government Organizations.
4. In the absence of proof of date of birth as above, Medical Certificate issued by Civil Surgeon after examining the member medically and supported with an affidavit on oath by the member duly authenticated by a Competent Court.
5. Passport
6. PAN by IT department
7. Central/ State Pension Payment Order
8. CGHS/ ECHS/ Medi-Claim Card issued by Centre/ State/ UTs Govts./ PSUs having Photo & Date of Birth
9. Domicile Certificate issued by the Government.

What UIDAI has said about Aadhaar for DOB proof

Aadhaar is recognised as Proof of Identity and Proof of Address for an Aadhaar Holder because of its uniqueness, which makes it a reliable form of identification. However, it cannot be used as Date of Birth (DoB) proof.

Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. The number serves as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.

"At the time of enrolment/updation, UIDAI records DoB as claimed by the resident, on the basis of the documents submitted by them, as specified under the list of supporting documents for Aadhaar enrolment, provided on the UIDAIT website (https://uidai.gov.in/images/commdoc/26_JAN_2023_Aadhaar_List_of_documents_English.pdf). Further, it is to be noted that Regulations 10(4) and 19A of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, mention that verification of the enrolment and update data shall be performed as provided in Schedule ILI. In this regard, attention is drawn towards Office Memorandum dated 20.12.2018 issued by MeitY through UIDAI, wherein it has been stated that “An Aadhaar number can be used for establishing identity of an individual subject to authentication and thereby, per se its not a proof of date of birth” (copy enclosed). This aspect of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 has been reiterated/highlighted/stressed upon by different High Courts in recent judgments. The most recent one is given by the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay, in the case of State of Maharashtra V/s Unique Identification Authority of India And Ors. dated 28.07.2023 (copy enclosed). In view of the above, it is required that use of Aadhaar, as a proof of DoB needs to be deleted from the list of acceptable documents," as per a UIDAI circular issued on December 22, 2023.

[The Economic Times]