Aadhaar-Voter Cards No Longer Enough? India to Introduce ‘Smart Citizenship Card’

Smart Citizenship Card: Currently in India, documents like Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, or Ration Card are not sufficient to prove citizenship. Incidents of data theft from various government databases and the creation of fake identity cards have put the credibility of these documents in question. To tackle this problem and build a secure identity system for Indian citizens, the central government has taken a new initiative – the Smart Citizenship Card.

Why is a New Card Needed?

When the Aadhaar card was first introduced, it was promoted as a secure system. But over time, several incidents like Aadhaar data leaks, the creation of fake Aadhaar centers, and Aadhaar cards ending up in the hands of infiltrators have come to light. As a result, despite a Supreme Court directive, the Aadhaar card will not be accepted as final proof of citizenship in the upcoming census and surveys. Not just Aadhaar, but Voter Cards, Ration Cards, or PAN Cards are also not sufficient for proving citizenship.

• Data Leaks: Citizens’ personal information has been leaked from government databases on multiple occasions.
• Fake Identity Cards: Infiltrators are easily creating fake Aadhaar cards, passports, and even birth certificates.
• Incomplete Documents: Many citizens, especially from the general category, do not have important documents like birth or caste certificates, which can create problems in proving their citizenship.

What is this Smart Citizenship Card?

To solve all these problems, the central government is planning to launch the ‘Smart Citizenship Card’. After the nationwide census and survey processes are completed, this card will be issued to valid citizens. This will be the sole and final document for proving Indian citizenship.

This card will be a secure and modern, technology-equipped identity card, which will be nearly impossible to forge. Through this, citizens can easily prove their identity and avail benefits of government schemes.

What Will Happen to the Old Cards?

A question has arisen in many people’s minds: what will happen to old documents like Aadhaar, Voter, or PAN cards once the new smart card is introduced? The government has clearly stated that these old cards will not be canceled. Each card will continue to be used for its specific purpose.

• Aadhaar Card: Will be used for banking and other financial transactions.
• Voter Card: Will remain essential for voting.
• Ration Card: Will be required to get food grains from the public distribution system.
• PAN Card: Will be used for income tax-related work.

The main purpose of the Smart Citizenship Card will be to act solely as proof of Indian citizenship. This will make the identity verification process more transparent and secure.