UPSC Prelims 2018 Q12: Indian Polity – Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Aadhaar - Legal Character and Deactivation
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aadhaar can be used as proof of citizenship or domicile | FALSE | Aadhaar is only proof of identity and residence in India for 182 days or more in the preceding 12 months. UIDAI explicitly clarifies Aadhaar is NOT proof of citizenship or domicile - foreigners lawfully residing in India (NRIs excluded post-2019) can also enrol. |
| 2 | Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by UIDAI | FALSE | Under Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016 and Section 27/28 of the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI can deactivate an Aadhaar number for reasons like biometric duplication, death of the holder, or if the number was obtained by fraud. |
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or domicile - UIDAI has repeatedly clarified this.
- (b) Incorrect. UIDAI can and does deactivate Aadhaar numbers (duplication, death, fraud).
- (c) Incorrect. Both statements are factually wrong.
- (d) CORRECT. Neither statement is right - Aadhaar is identity/residence proof only, and it is deactivable.
Key point
Aadhaar = identity + residence proof, NOT citizenship/domicile proof. UIDAI can deactivate Aadhaar for duplication, fraud or death. Legal basis: Aadhaar Act, 2016 (upheld with limits in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2018)).
Remember
Aadhaar is proof of identity and residence in India, not of citizenship or domicile - a clarification UIDAI has issued repeatedly. UIDAI can deactivate an Aadhaar number if it is a duplicate, obtained by fraud, or belongs to a deceased person. Both claims in this question overstate Aadhaar's scope and permanence.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Aadhaar (identity) with a citizenship document like passport or NRC - very different regimes.
- Assuming Aadhaar is permanent and immutable - it can be updated, corrected, and deactivated by UIDAI.
- Missing the Puttaswamy judgment (2018) that upheld Aadhaar but struck down its mandatory use for private services and banking/telecom.
Exam tip
Rule: Any document is 'proof of X' only if the issuing authority declares it as such. UIDAI has explicitly said Aadhaar is NOT proof of citizenship. Do not stretch its scope.
Sources
- Aadhaar Act, 2016 - Sections 3, 27, 28
- Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016 - Regulations 27-28