---
title: "Aadhaar Act, 2016: Law Explained | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Aadhaar Act, 2016 establishes India's unique ID system using biometric data, crucial for welfare delivery and identity verification."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/aadhaar-act-2016"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Aadhaar Act, 2016 is an Indian law that establishes the legal framework for issuing 12-digit unique identity numbers and authenticating residents using biometric and demographic data.
- Why was the Aadhaar Act passed as a Money Bill, and why is that controversial?
- What did the 2018 Puttaswamy judgment change about the Act?
- Does an Aadhaar number prove citizenship?
- What biometric data does UIDAI collect, and what is excluded?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Aadhaar Act, 2016 is an Indian law that establishes the legal framework for issuing 12-digit unique identity numbers and authenticating residents using biometric and demographic data.

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## Timeline

1. 28 January 2009

   Before the Act, Aadhaar enrolment rested on a Planning Commission notification dated , an arrangement repeatedly challenged as lacking legislative authority.

2. 3 March 2016

   The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on and certified as a Money Bill under Article 110 of the Constitution, a classifi…

3. 25 March 2016

   The Act received presidential assent on and was notified in stages.

4. 26 September 2018

   On a five-judge constitution bench upheld the Act's constitutional validity and the Money Bill certification by majority, but struck down or read down sever…

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Example

In 2018 the Supreme Court of India, in the Puttaswamy judgment of 26 September, upheld the Aadhaar Act but struck down Section 57, barring private firms from demanding Aadhaar for verification.

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