New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Thursday passed Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 by a voice vote.
Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Bill that will replace an ordinance issued in March this year.
The Bill seeks to amend Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016 and to further amend the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.
The Bill also proposes giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.
This Bill will make the use of Aadhaar for opening bank accounts and procuring mobile phone connections voluntary.
The Bill also provides for a stiff Rs 1 crore penalty and 3 years of jail term for private entities for storing Aadhaar data.
The Union Minister told the House that Aadhaar is in the national interest and it does not violate the privacy of any Individual.
The Minister reassured the House that there is no mandatory compliance to have Aadhaar card to avail the benefits of government schemes.
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Ms Kalinga