New Delhi : The Reserve Bank of India has said biometric identity number Aadhaar linkage with bank accounts is mandatory.
The RBI clarification followed media reports quoting a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application that suggested the apex bank has not issued any order for mandatory Aadhaar linkage with bank accounts.
“The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017,” the central bank said in a statement.
These rules have statutory force and, as such, banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions, it said.
“Some news items have appeared in a section of the media quoting a reply to a RTI application that Aadhaar number linkage with bank accounts is not mandatory. The Reserve Bank clarifies that, in applicable cases, linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account is mandatory under the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Second Amendment Rules, 2017 published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2017,” the central bank said in a tweet.
These rules have statutory force and, as such, banks have to implement them without awaiting further instructions.
Considering that the rule to make Aadhaar mandatory for opening new accounts has already been enforced by banks following the finance ministry directive, it would appear that as per current situation, existing account holders will not be given an exemption.
