Fraudulent Aadhaar websites, mobile apps shut; here's how to find the legit one

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has forced Google to shutdown mobile applications that were charging citizens for getting them their Aadhaar cards. The agency has also clamped down on many websites that were offering to make Aadhaar cards for a fee. 

Ajay Bhushan Pandey, UIDAI CEO was quoted as saying, "UIDAI has not authorised the owners of these mobile applications or websites to extend any Aadhaar-related services on its behalf."

These websites were charging unreasonable amounts for providing Aadhaar related services like PVC Aadhaar card, downloading Aadhaar card online, status of Aadhaar generation. 

How to get your Aadhaar number? 

For providing Aadhaar related services, the only official website is www.uidai.gov.in. No other website is authorised to provide any kind of Aadhaar services. 

The cost of getting an Aadhaar number is zero. That is, official Aadhaar centres contracted by the Government to punch in your details for successful generation of Aadhaar will not charge you any amount. 

Steps: 

Go to Aadhaar website (mentioned above) and find an Aadhaar centre closest to your location. 

Visit the Aadhaar centre with your identification proof. 

Fill the online form at the centre and provide them with photo-copies of your identification proof. 

You can use your passport, driving licence, school-leaving certificate, etc as your birth date and address proof. 

Once your details are filled in, the centre will then ask for your eye scan and finger print scan. 

After this, you will be given a receipt of your entry. 

Aadhaar numbers are generally generated within 15 days of this exercise. 

Within 2-3 months time, you will get your Aadhaar card at your registered address via post. 

Government last week said that one does not need an 'Aadhaar card' for it to be valid. 

ALSO READ: Paper printed Aadhaar card is "Perfectly Valid" as original: UIDAI

On January 27, 2017, Aadhar enrollment crossed 111 crore out of 125 crore Indians 

Till now Aadhaar enrollment ecosystem is with 135 registrars and 612 enrollment agencies working at 47,192 enrollment stations has been enrolling and updating 7-8 lakhs requests per day.