Regulation 16C Conditions for accepting an Aadhaar number as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder

(1) No Offline Verification Seeking Entity shall accept Aadhaar number, in physical or electronic form (without authentication), as a proof of identity for a lawful purpose, without first verifying the digital signature of the Authority as provided in the Aadhaar secure QR Code on Aadhaar Letter or e-Aadhaar or 29[Omitted] Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC 30[Omitted], as the case may be.

(2) No requesting entity shall accept Aadhaar number as a proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder, in electronic form by way of authentication, unless it is for a lawful purpose which is in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Act and only with the informed consent of the Aadhaar number holder and in a manner as provided in these Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) Regulations, 2021.