How to unlink Aadhaar from Bank, Mobile and Digital Wallet? On September 26th, 2018, Supreme Court in a landmark verdict ruled that Aadhaar would not be needed for opening bank accounts, for getting mobile phone connections, investing in Mutual Funds, while buying Life Insurance, or admission to schools.
However, due to earlier rulings by respective Government agencies, we might have already linked Aadhaar number with Bank, Mobile SIM, Digital Wallet (like Paytm), while completing the KYC process for Mutual Fund investments and Life Insurance.
It may be a happy moment for those who not yet linked. However, for many us who have already followed the rules and linked our Aadhaar to Bank, Mobile and Digital Wallet, then it is our responsibility to delink the same. This is the safety measure we can do it.
As per the “Compendium of Regulations, Circulars and Guidelines” for authentication of Aadhaar-based e-KYC, available on the official website of UIADI (Unique Identification Authority of India), an Aadhaar number holder is entitled to delink his biometric details shared with any authorized agency or service provider.
The compendium says, “The Aadhaar number holder may, at any time, revoke consent given to a KUA ((KYC user agency) for storing his e-KYC data or for sharing it with third parties, and upon such revocation, the KUA shall delete the e-KYC data and cease any further sharing.”
How to unlink Aadhaar from Bank, Mobile and Digital Wallet?
Now you came to know the importance of unlinking the Aadhaar wherever it is not necessary. Hence, let me explain one by one in detail.
How to unlink Aadhaar from Bank?
Before proceeding to unlink Aadhaar from Bank, first make sure that your Bank Account is not linked for any DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer). If you unlink the Aadhaar with the bank which is linked for DBT (like Gas subsidy), then you may not receive the DBT money in your account. Hence, try to unlink Aadhaar from bank cautiously.
As of now, there is no such process mentioned either by UIDAI or Banks regarding the unlinking of Aadhaar with Bank. Hence, you have to personally visit the bank branch. Give the request to unlink the Aadhaar from Bank. They may ask you the photocopy of the Aadhaar. Provide the same and unlink it. I will explain you the same in below steps.
- Visit your bank branch
- Ask the customer service to give you a physical form to unlink Aadhaar.
- Submit the form.
- Your Aadhaar will be delinked with 48 hours.
- Call your bank to find out if it has been unlinked or not.
How to unlink Aadhaar from Mobile Service Provider?
Here also, mobile service providers not set any process as of now. Hence, you have to call their customer care number and request for unlinking. You may be asked to send an e-mail with a request to de-link your Aadhaar details.
Once you send it, then they will send you the confirmed message of unlinking Aadhaar. As of now, they have not set any standard process. But down the line, they will surely set up a process to streamline of unlinking Aadhaar.
The biggest issue is with Jio. Because this provider as of issued SIMs based on eKYC using Aadhaar Card only. Hence, I am not sure how in the future they implement the KYC process.
How to unlink Aadhaar from Digital Wallet?
As of now, after the Supreme Court verdit, the digital wallet companies like Paytm and PhonePe, and others like MobiKwik are likely to remove the option of linking Aadhaar with their wallet. However, I will suggest you to follow these below steps.
- Ask them to send you an e-mail to unlink your Aadhaar by calling their customer care numbers.
- You will then receive an e-mail, which will ask you to attach a clear softcopy of your Aadhaar.
- Once you send an email, then they will reply to you saying that your Aadhaar will be unlinked within 72 hours (depends again on the company procedure).
- After the set deadline, cross check whether your Aadhaar is unlinked or not.
This judgment cost heavily on these digital wallet companies as they had invested on agents to help users get their e-KYC done. They have tied up with third-party companies, who were enabling door-step eKYC of users who weren’t keen on going to a store to get it done.
Overall the process is to be streamlined by Banks, Mobile service providers and also the Digital Wallet companies to streamline the unlining of Aadhaar. I will update the same as and when I will get the news on this.
At the moment the best way is to communicate through email or customer care numbers to unlink Aadhaar.
Our other posts related to Aadhaar-
- How to check Aadhaar is active or deactivated online?
- How to view or download Aadhaar update history?
- Check online when and who used your Aadhaar Card
- How to check if Aadhaar is linked to bank accounts or not?
- How to lock and unlock Aadhaar Card online and prevent misuse?
- Unable to link Aadhaar with PAN – What are the alternatives?
10 Responses
Sir.. i had a sbi bank account since jan 2020, i was closed my account in jan 2020. In npci server still the account is showing and updated as inactive, but i have another account in canara i need to link(aadhaar seed) the account even though the bank officials updating it is not changing. What is the process to delete my sbi account in npci server and how can i update there with new account.
Please explain me sir….
Thank you…!
I Rajesh
Dear Rajesh,
Wait for some time.
Hello,sir i have updated my new mobile number in epfo, but the otp going to old number and i have checked contact details also but there is my new number only can you please help me out..?
Dear Naik,
Better to wait for some time as I think the update is not complete at their end.
Why should one provide a copy of the aadhar to unlink it. It defeats the purpose of unlinking. Why peddling such nonsense as steps
Dear Xerdan,
This is the process they designed.
This is the reply I received from Airtel on DoT complaints on http://www.pgportal.gov.in –
As per your telephonic discussion with the undersigned dated 12thJuly 2018, this is to apprise you that we have validated our records and established as per our records found that Aadhaar number already updated on your number. Once the number has been linked with Aadhaar, same cannot be removed.
Further, we have noted your feedback, sincere apologies for the inconvenience faced. We have communicated your feedback to the concerned team and will ensure this issue is corrected at the earliest.We appreciate you for bringing this issue to our notice.
This is only half official reply. On another email they mentioned clearly that if I want to unlink I will have to deactivate my number, as they can’t do unlinking.
Atleast supreme court should set some precedure guidelines for unlinking
Dear Anmol,
The have not set up the system. Hence, they are simply misguiding you. As per above shared post (also shared the rules), you are FREE to unlink the same at any point of time.
Sir for investing in NPS ekyc is done by SBI hereafter is it not necessary should I delink the same or leave it which is better one bank has charged Rs 125/=for ekyc
Dear Sivaram,
Better to delink by approaching the bank.