Aadhar Card, the issuance of which is undertaken by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) as per the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016, has gradually emerged as an essential document for residents of India. It is not a proof of citizenship, but a proof of identity and residence. The Government is taking conscious steps to encourage residents of India to link their Aadhaar Card number to bank account, demat account, driving license, etc.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has laid down an easy and hassle-free method for residents of India to link Aadhaar Card with driving license through a few simple steps. The Ministry is responsible for issuance and renewal of driving licenses. Every State and Union Territory has a separate Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and, therefore, the online process of linking Aadhaar Card with driving licence may slightly vary in each State and Union Territory. The process of linking Aadhar Card to driving licence can be initiated through the official website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the state where the driving license is registered.
Though the process of linking Aadhaar Card with driving licence may vary, the crux of the procedure remains the same. TA driving license-holder can opt for either the online or offline process according to his/her convenience.
The online linking process is as follows:
Step 1: Visit the official website of the state/UT road transport department’s website
Step 2: Select on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button
Step 3: Click on the “Driving License” option from the drop down menu
Step 4: Enter your driving license number and select the ‘Get Details’ tab
Step 5: Details of your driving license will automatically get displayed on the screen
Step 6: Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar Card number and contact number
Step 7: Make sure that the contact number you enter here should be the same as the one that has been registered with UIDAI
Step 8: Select the ‘Submit’ tab
Step 9: After you submit the details, you will receive an OTP (One Time Password) on your registered contact number, which you have to enter and then click to confirm
Step 10: Once the details submitted by you are confirmed by the transport officials, you will receive a confirmation message on your contact number and email ID
There are several instances of an individual owning more than one driving license, which is not legally permissible. Road transport laws clearly define that more than one driving license cannot be registered against the name of one individual. Driving license issued in one state holds validity in every other State and Union Territory of India.
The proposition by the Government of India to link driving licenses to Aadhaar Card is a move towards restricting the illegal possession of multiple driving licenses by an individual. Driving licenses that have not been linked to Aadhaar Card within a stipulated deadline would be deactivated. Individuals holding more than one license can also voluntarily surrender their licenses at the regional Road Transport Department.
The government plans to expedite the linking process, which can be introduced once the legal provisions have been finalised Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. When enforced, it would simplify the process of tracking down fake and multiple driving license-holders. In short, linking Aadhaar Card with driving license will enable the following:
| Jammu and Kashmir | Gujarat | Odisha |
| Haryana | Maharashtra | Assam |
| Himachal Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh | Meghalaya |
| Punjab | Uttarakhand | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Rajasthan | Bihar | Nagaland |
| Delhi | Jharkhand | Mizoram |
| Madhya Pradesh | Chattisgarh | Manipur |
| Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Tripura |
| Karnataka | Telangana | Sikkim |
| Kerala | West Bengal |
How to link Aadhaar to Driving Licence
The online process for linking process Aadhaar Card with your driving license is as follows:
Step 1:Visit the official website of the state/UT road transport department’s website
Step 2:Select on the ‘Link Aadhaar’ button
Step 3:Click on the ‘Driving License’ from the dropdown menu
Step 4:Enter your driving license number and select the ‘Get Details’ tab
Step 5:Details of your driving license will automatically get displayed on the screen
Step 6:Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar Card number and contact number
Step 7:Make sure that the contact number you enter here should be the same as the one that has been registered with UIDAI
Step 8:Select the ‘Submit’ tab.
Step 9:After you submit the details, you will receive an OTP (One Time Password) on your registered contact number, which you have to enter and then click to confirm
Step 10:Once the details submitted by you is confirmed by the transport officials, you will receive a confirmation message on your contact number and email ID
Is it mandatory to driving licence link with aadhar card?
The Government of India intends to make the process of linking Aadhaar Card to your driving license mandatory. However, the process has not been made compulsory yet.
Is an e-Aadhaar card valid for linking driving license?
Yes, you need to enter your Aadhaar Card number while linking it to your driving license. Therefore, it does not matter whether you have an e-Aadhaar or a hard copy of Aadhaar Card.
