The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment (Govt. of India) issued a significant circular on January 16. The circular announced the removal of Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents as proof of Date of Birth (DoB). This decision follows a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as detailed in Circular No.8 issued in 2023.
What was UIDAI’s Directive?
It was observed by UIDAI that Aadhaar was being considered as proof of DoB by various entities. Aadhaar, while can be used for unique identification, was not recognised as proof of date of birth under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. The UIDAI emphasizes that Aadhaar provides identity verification, not proof of birth.
EPFO’s Circular and Implementation:
In response to UIDAI’s directive, EPFO removed Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents for correcting the date of birth. This decision was approved by the Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC). UIDAI’s circular referred to the Aadhar Act, 2016 and regulations governing the enrolment and update processes. The office memorandum of December 20, 2018, said that Aadhar was not proof of DoB.
The removal of Aadhaar as proof of DoB by EPFO aligned with UIDAI’s directive and legal stance on the Aadhaar’s limitations. EPFO members and entities involved in date of birth corrections were advised to be aware of this change. The UIDAI’s emphasis on Aadhaar’s role in identity verification rather than proof of birth had legal backing, reinforcing the need for accurate documentation. This development reflected the evolving landscape of identity verification and highlighted the importance of staying in alliance with the latest regulatory updates.
Here are the certificates that can be used instead of the Aadhaar card or DoB correction:
- Birth Certificate
- Marksheet of any government board or university
- School leaving certificate
- School transfer certificate
- Medical certificate issued by Civil Surgeon
- Passport
- PAN number
- Government pension
- Mediclaim certificate
- Domicile certificate will also be valid for update/correction.
Note: All these documents should contain name and date of birth.