Aadhaar, PAN card, ration cards not enough; Government lists documents to prove citizenship

 

 

Delhi: The government has said that even if you have documents including Aadhaar, PAN card and ration card, they will not be considered as proof of Indian citizenship. These documents are used for administrative purposes and welfare activities. The government has also listed only birth certificates and domicile certificates as the only documents that the government will accept for proving citizenship.

Many foreigners are residing in the country illegally. They are trying to escape by presenting Aadhaar, ration or PAN cards during verification drives. There are many identity documents in India like Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, ration cards. However, these documents cannot be used to verify or confirm a person's citizenship.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) considers Aadhaar card only as an identity document and residence document. But it is not considered a citizenship document. The same applies to PAN and ration cards. PAN cards are used for tax purposes. Ration cards are used for food distribution, and neither of these confirm citizenship.

The Birth and Death Certificates Act, 1969, allows designated authorities to issue birth certificates to designated authorities. It gives the power to issue certificates. This validates citizenship based on birth in India. 'Domicile' certificates validate that a person has resided in a state or union territory. This is also a document that validates Indian citizenship.

The new decision is very crucial for foreigners who do not have identity documents and do not have other citizenship documents. Remember that birth and residence documents must be kept accurate and legally updated, and are mandatory for government jobs, passports, and court proceedings.