Section 4:
Properties of Aadhaar number.
(1) An Aadhaar number, issued to an individual shall not be reassigned to any other individual.
(2) An Aadhaar number shall be a random number and bear no relation to the attributes or identity of
the Aadhaar number holder.
1[(3) Every Aadhaar number holder to establish his identity, may voluntarily use his Aadhaar number
in physical or electronic form by way of authentication or offline verification, or in such other form as
may be notified, in such manner as may be specified by regulations.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of this section, voluntary use of the Aadhaar number by way of
authentication means the use of such Aadhaar number only with the informed consent of the Aadhaar
number holder.
(4) An entity may be allowed to perform authentication, if the Authority is satisfied that the requesting
entity is--
(a) compliant with such standards of privacy and security as may be specified by regulations; and
(b) (i) permitted to offer authentication services under the provisions of any other law made by
Parliament; or
(ii) seeking authentication for such purpose, as the Central Government in consultation with the
Authority, and in the interest of State, may prescribe.
(5) The Authority may, by regulations, decide whether a requesting entity shall be permitted the use of
the actual Aadhaar number during authentication or only an alternative virtual identity.
(6) Every requesting entity to whom an authentication request is made by an Aadhaar number holder
under sub-section (3) shall inform to the Aadhaar number holder of alternate and viable means of
identification and shall not deny any service to him for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo
authentication.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions, mandatory authentication of an
Aadhaar number holder for the provision of any service shall take place if such authentication is required
by a law made by Parliament.]
Notes:
1. Subs. by Act 14 of 2019, s. 6, for Sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 25-7-2019).