According to ET, the decision to exclude Aadhaar as a valid document for proof of date of birth follows a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). In a circular issued on December 22, 2023, the UIDAI emphasised that although Aadhaar serves as a reliable proof of identity and proof of address, it cannot be used as proof of date of birth.
Documents required to update the date of birth in an EPF account
To facilitate the correction or updating of the date of birth in EPFO records, individuals are now required to submit alternative documents. According to a circular issued in August 2023, acceptable documents include:
- Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
- 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.
- Certificate based on the service records of the Central/State Government Organizations.
- In the absence of the above proofs, a Medical Certificate issued by a Civil Surgeon, supported by an affidavit on oath authenticated by a Competent Court.
- Passport.
PAN card issued by theIncome Tax department.- Central/State Pension Payment Order.
- CGHS/ ECHS/ Medi-Claim Card issued by Centre/State/UTs Govts./ PSUs having Photo & Date of Birth.
- Domicile Certificate issued by the Government.
UIDAI’s stance on Aadhaar for proof of date of birth
Aadhaar serves as proof of identity and address due to its unique 12-digit identification number issued by the UIDAI on behalf of the Government of India. However, it cannot be used as proof of date of birth.
During enrollment or updates, the UIDAI records the claimed DoB based on the documents submitted by the resident, as specified on the UIDAI website. Regulations 10(4) and 19A of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, state that verification of enrollment and update data follows the provided schedule. An Office Memorandum dated December 20, 2018, by MeitY through UIDAI clarifies that while an Aadhaar number establishes identity subject to authentication, it is not proof of date of birth.
This clarification aligns with the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which has been emphasised by various High Courts in recent judgments, including the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay’s decision on July 28, 2023. In light of these considerations, the UIDAI issued a circular on December 22, 2023, recommending the removal of Aadhaar as proof of DoB from the list of acceptable documents.