Is Aadhaar No Longer Valid as Date of Birth Proof by EPFO?

Is Aadhaar No Longer Valid as Date of Birth Proof by EPFO? EPFO Removes Aadhaar Card as Acceptable Proof of Date of Birth. Read Further Details Below.

In a significant move, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that Aadhaar cards will no longer be accepted as valid proof of date of birth. This decision comes after a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which clarified that Aadhaar is primarily an identity verification tool and not a proof of birth document.

The EPFO issued a circular, stating that Aadhaar cards have been removed from the list of acceptable documents for correcting or updating date of birth records. This circular has received approval from the Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC).

The circular cited a letter from the UIDAI, which stated, “The use of Aadhaar as proof of date of birth needs to be deleted from the list of acceptable documents.” Consequently, the EPFO has complied with this directive and has eliminated Aadhaar cards from the list of acceptable documents for date of birth corrections mentioned in Table-B of Annexure-1 of the Joint Disciplinary Standard Operating Procedure (JD SOP).

This move by the EPFO aligns with recent court judgments that have reinforced the notion that Aadhaar cards cannot be considered as proof of date of birth. The decision aims to streamline the process of verifying and updating date of birth records within the EPFO’s systems.

With Aadhaar cards no longer accepted, the EPFO has provided a list of alternative documents that can be used as valid proof of date of birth. These include:

Marksheets issued by recognized government boards or universities
School Leaving Certificate (SLC) / School Transfer Certificate (TC) / SSC certificate containing name and date of birth
Certificates based on service records
PAN cards
Central/State Pension Payment Orders
Domicile certificates issued by the government
Passports
Government pension documents
Medical certificates issued by civil surgeons

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The EPFO’s move to remove Aadhaar cards from the list of acceptable documents for date of birth proof aligns with the UIDAI’s clarification on the primary purpose of Aadhaar. While Aadhaar serves as a reliable identity verification tool, it was not designed to serve as a definitive proof of date of birth.

This decision aims to enhance the accuracy and integrity of the EPFO’s records by relying on more appropriate and legally recognized documents for verifying and updating date of birth information. It also underscores the importance of adhering to regulatory guidelines and ensuring compliance with directives from authorities like the UIDAI.

As the EPFO implements this change, it is crucial for employees and beneficiaries to be aware of the updated list of acceptable documents for date of birth proof. This will facilitate a smoother process for correcting or updating date of birth records within the EPFO’s systems.