Aadhaar number not required for SIM card or bank account, penalty up to Rs. 10,000 for forced demand

If you also go to a shop to get a SIM card and the shopkeeper asks you for your Aadhaar card number, you can refuse it clearly, as the Aadhaar and other laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019' have been approved. According to this bill, a bank or a shopkeeper giving a SIM card cannot force you to give the Aadhaar number.

The new Bill will be in the form of amendments to the Aadhaar Act 2016 and other laws and will replace the ordinance issued in March 2019. The amendment bill will be introduced in the parliament session beginning June 17. The amendment proposes to impose a bankruptcy penalty of up to Rs 1 crore for violation of Aadhaar provisions. Also, an additional penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed every day if the rules are not followed.

In fact, according to the new amendment, unauthorized use of Aadhaar is punishable and can attract a fine of up to Rs 10,000 and a three-year jail term. The new Bill clearly states that if there is no law constraint by Parliament, a person cannot be forced to show Aadhaar number to prove his identity.