The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued the Aadhaar (Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services) Regulations, 2021 vide notification dated October 14, 2021.
Key provisions under the regulations are:
- Pricing of Aadhaar Authentication Services-
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- Each successful Aadhaar e-KYC transaction shall be charged @ Rs. 3 (including applicable taxes) from requesting entities except Telecom Service Providers for whom the rate shall be Re. 1/- (including applicable taxes) for each successful Aadhaar e-KYC transaction;
- Each successful Yes/No authentication transaction shall be charged @ Rs. 0.50 (including applicable taxes) from requesting entities;
- Each failed, but chargeable Aadhaar e-KYC transaction or Yes/No authentication transaction shall be charged @ Rs. 0.50 (including applicable taxes) per such transaction from requesting entities.
- Authentication transactions done by or on behalf of the Central and State Government Ministries/ Departments, for specified services, transfer of benefits and subsidies, shall be exempt from Authentication transaction charges.
- Discontinuation of authentication and e-KYC services-
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- If an existing requesting entity [except those exempts under Regulation 2(2) above], continues to use Aadhaar authentication services beyond the date of publication of these Regulations, it shall be deemed to have agreed to the specified authentication charges. The entities shall be required to deposit the authentication transaction charges within 15 days of issuance of the invoice based on the usage. The delay in payment beyond 15 days shall attract interest compounded @ 1.5% per month and discontinuation of authentication and e-KYC services.
- In case a requesting entity does not wish to pay authentication transaction charges, it shall discontinue the use of Aadhaar authentication services and intimate its decision to the UIDAI immediately, and it shall surrender its access to the authentication facilities as per Regulation 23 of the Aadhaar (Authentication) Regulations, 2016. However, the transaction charges as applicable till the date of de-activation of access to authentication services shall have to be paid.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.
