Aadhaar, PAN, and ration cards are useful for government work and getting benefits. But they are not strong proof that someone is an Indian citizen. You have to note that only birth certificates and domicile certificates are accepted by the government as proof of citizenship. The decision was made by the Centre after many illegal foreign nationals produced Aadhaar, ration, or PAN cards during verification drives.
In light of the updated citizenship policy following the Pahalgam terror attack and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, it’s important to understand which documents can serve as proof of Indian citizenship. Here is a list of government-approved documents that can be used to establish your citizenship.
Valid Proofs Of Indian Citizenship
India has multiple documents to prove your identity or citizenship. Documents like Aadhaar Cards, PAN Cards, and ration cards among some of them. However, not every document can be used to verify one’s citizenship.
An Aadhaar card can be used to prove your identity and may validate your address, but it does not prove that you are an Indian citizen. Moreover, PAN cards and ration cards serve as identity for tax purposes and to access government schemes and subsidised food, but not as proof of citizenship. The government accepts only birth certificates and domicile certificates as proof of Indian citizenship.
According to the law made in 1969, certain government officers can give birth certificates, which prove citizenship if someone is born in India.
What Are Domicile Certificates?
Domicile certificates validate that a person has resided in a specific state or union territory, which further substantiates the claims of holding Indian citizenship.
Citizens And Residents
This is important for people who don’t have a birth certificate or a domicile certificate but do have other ID cards. These individuals need to understand which documents are officially accepted by the Indian government. Moreover, they should stay informed about any changes the government makes regarding citizenship documents.
This shows how important it is to have and protect documents like birth and domicile certificates, especially when you need to prove your citizenship, like for government jobs, getting a passport, or in court.
People should make sure their birth and residence records are correct and up to date. If they don’t have these papers, they should contact the right government office to get them, so they don’t face any legal trouble and can prove they are Indian citizens.
