What Are The Requirements Of Aadhaar eKYC?
What Is Aadhaar eKYC?
Aadhaar eKYC is a service offered by the Unique Identification Authority Of India (UIDAI) to businesses and organizations. These businesses and organizations can validate the identity of an individual by verifying the personal details of an individual such as name, address, etc. against his or her biometric information held with the Aadhaar database. The Aadhaar eKYC software is based on the Aadhaar KYC API or Application Program Interface which allows quick and easy integration into an existing system or app.
Why eKYC?
KYC details are required to be submitted mandatorily to several departments of the Government, banks and financial entities. This would require a person to be present in-person and manually submit verification documents, which is a time-consuming process and requires storage and retrieval of a customer’s documents. The electronic KYC or eKYC validates the identity of an individual using an Aadhaar-based biometric scan and/or OTP in a matter of minutes. The several advantages of eKYC have been covered in our earlier article on ‘The Advantages of eKYC’.
Comparison Of Process
The following table is a tabular representation of the comparison of the different modes of verification required under the normal KYC process, the Aadhaar-based eKYC (biometric) process and the Aadhaar-based eKYC (OTP) process.
| Mode of Verification | Normal KYC | Aadhaar eKYC (Biometric) | Aadhaar eKYC (OTP) |
| Attestation on ID & Address proof | Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Mobile Verification | Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Email Verification | Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Video Verification | Required for Class 3 | Not Required | Required for all Classes |
Prerequisites for Aadhaar eKYC (Biometric)
A customer or subscriber should be physically present at the time of biometric verification. A customer can be verified through biometric device only if a person is physically present to give a fingerprint scan or an iris (eye) scan. Basically, a customer can perform authentication at the location of the device or at the RA location.
Prerequisites for Aadhaar eKYC (OTP)
The Aadhaar-based OTP verification does not require a person to be physically present at the time of customer verification. This process requires an individual to enter his or her Aadhaar number online. A one-time password is generated on the Aadhaar-enabled mobile number. a customer’s Aadhaar details will be downloaded, and after verification of identity, a customer will be permitted the use of services.
In both cases stated above, Aadhaar is mandatory for verification through OTP or biometric devices. So if you haven’t gotten your Aadhaar card yet, it’s about time you do.
In-person Verification (IPV)
In-person verification is verification done where the physical presence of the individual is required while submitting verification documents. The old KYC norms required an individual to fulfill Know Your Customer information in-person at the physical location of the office that requires it. In-person verification is required if:
- A customer’s verification is not done through Aadhaar-based biometric verification (as stipulated by the UIDAI) such as fingerprint or OTP.
- A customer’s verification is not done through Aadhaar-based OTP verification (as stipulated by the UIDAI).
Note: Customers or investors that have done verification through Aadhaar-based OTP verification will be permitted to make financial transactions up to a limit of INR 50,000 per year.
Electronic Signature Service
eSign is an electronic signature service enabler that provides electronic signature services so that citizens of India can sign documents anywhere and at anytime. By using Aadhaar eKYC services, an individual can electronically sign electronic documents without having to obtain a physical digital signature dongle. Electronic signatures facilitated through eSign are legally valid in India under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Second Schedule) to help promote the growth of E-commerce and E-governance in India through the use of digital signatures.
Some of the salient features of Aadhaar based eSign are: it saves cost and time, flexible and fast integration with applications, verifiable signatures, complete audit trail, improved user convenience, legally recognized in a court of law, user privacy, etc. Aadhaar-based eSign is quite apt for businesses, startups and Government entities that help secure online services in a flexible and easy to implement manner.
Is The KYC Form Required If Verification Is Done Through Aadhaar-based eKYC?
An individual is not required to fill a KYC form furnishing the details of his Permanent Account Number (PAN) and physically signing the Form if verification is done through Aadhaar-based eKYC norms. The personal information of an individual available with the UIDAI is considered as sufficient KYC information for the purpose of verification. Such information is made available only upon the consent of the individual requiring a service.
eKYC Registration And Service
eKYC registration and services are generally provided by the service provider that are authorized by the UIDAI to collect such information. A KYC user can register his Aadhaar KYC details, which is a one-time process, with the Service provider to start using services. In some cases, such as banks, eKYC details will be required to be updated after 2, 8 or 10 years have elapsed based on the risk category of an individual (high, medium and low-risk). KYC details can be updated online for such customers.
LegalDesk.com is a startup dedicated to enabling Indian companies, startups and citizens with business or company registrations, stamp paper, affidavit, documents/agreements drafts, and more. To successfully deliver these services, we make use of eSign, our authentic electronic signature online and eKYC. If you are interested in getting our eSign API or any other service, click the button below and submit your request.
