Aadhaar mandatory for subsidised LPG

Subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders will now be available only those who have with Aadhaar cards. Those who do not have the unique identity number will be required to enroll for it in order to continue availing the subsidy. After the passage of the Aadhaar law and its attendant regulations, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas notified the mandatory requirement of the

unique identity number to oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Friday. OMCs are now required to provide enrolment facilities to those without Aadhaar numbers. The companies can temporarily give subsidy based on other documents such as a driver’s licence, provided a subscriber can show proof of having enrolled for Aadhaar and awaiting the issue of the unique identity number.

The ministry’s notification says in case beneficiaries are unable to enroll for Aadhaar at the earmarked centres in their area, the OMCs will be required to create enrolment facilities at convenient locations. OMCs will ask  applicants seeking subsidised LPG cylinders to register their requests for Aadhaar cards, either on the OMCs’ websites or with LPG dealers and distributors.

The decision to universalise the use of Aadhaar across all large schemes of the government was taken in May 2016 at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office. After the passage of regulations of the Aadhaar Act, the Unique Identity Authority of India sent out a circular to all government bodies to issue specific notifications making Aadhaar mandatory for the social schemes and government processes.

Multiple petitions are pending before the Supreme Court against making Aadhaar mandatory. But the government contends these pertain to the period before the law came in to force. In August, the Supreme Court had asked the government to withdraw an order making Aadhaar mandatory for availing academic scholarships and fellowships. The Centre says the order was bad in law as it was not passed in keeping with the new regulations, which require the government body concerned to provide Aadhaar enrolment facilities and continue to give benefits if the person can show proof of enrolment. This, the government claims, will ensure that no one is denied benefits or access to government schemes and processes.