HomeCirculars › RBI/2013-14/518

e-Aadhaar Now Valid KYC Document for RRBs and Co-op Banks

No longer current — replaced by Master Direction – Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/518 · issued 13 Mar 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI now allows RRBs and cooperative banks to accept e-Aadhaar downloaded from UIDAI as an officially valid document for KYC, subject to verification via bank-printed copy, e-KYC, or simple authentication.

What changed

RBI clarified that e-Aadhaar downloaded from UIDAI website can be accepted as an officially valid document under PML Rules by RRBs and StCBs/CCBs. Banks may print the e-Aadhaar from UIDAI portal if the customer provides only the Aadhaar number or carries a downloaded copy, or use e-KYC or simple authentication. Physical Aadhaar card and e-KYC process remain valid.

What it means for you

This expands KYC options for RRBs and cooperative banks, making account opening easier for customers who have only e-Aadhaar. Banks must ensure verification through UIDAI portal or e-KYC to prevent fraud. It reduces reliance on physical documents but requires banks to update their KYC policies accordingly.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Who it affects

Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Cooperative Banks (StCBs), Central Cooperative Banks (CCBs), Customers opening accounts with these banks

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

Can we accept e-Aadhaar downloaded by the customer themselves?

Yes, but you must verify it by printing the e-Aadhaar from UIDAI portal in the bank, or use e-KYC, or confirm identity/address through simple authentication service of UIDAI.

Is physical Aadhaar still valid for KYC?

Yes, physical Aadhaar card/letter issued by UIDAI and e-KYC process remain valid as officially valid documents.

Do we need to revise our KYC policy?

Yes, RRBs and StCBs/CCBs must revise their KYC policy to incorporate these instructions and ensure strict adherence.

📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
Superseded by Master Direction – Know Your Customer (KYC) Direction, 2016
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/518 RPCD.RRB.RCB.AML.BC.No. 92/07.51.018/2013-14 March 13, 2014 The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks / State and Central Co-operative Banks Dear Sir, RRBs/StCBs/CCBs - Know Your Customer (KYC) Norms /Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Standards/ Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/Obligation of banks under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 – Recognising e-Aadhaar as an ‘Officially Valid Document’ under PML Rules Please refer to our circulars RPCD.CO.RRB.AML.BC.No 21/03.05.33(E)/2011-12 and RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.BC.No.23/07.40.00/ 2011-12 dated October 13, 2011 and October 17, 2011 respectively which state that the letter issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number may be accepted as an ‘Officially Valid Document’. Further in terms of paragraph 2(iii) of our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.6097/07.51.018/2012-13 dated December 13, 2012 , Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and State and Central Cooperative Banks (StCBs/CCBs) were advised that, while opening accounts based on Aadhaar, if the address provided by the account holder is the same as that on Aadhaar letter, it may be accepted as a proof of both identity and address. 2. In this connection, a reference may be made to our circular RPCD.RRB. RCB.AML.BC.No.32/07.51.018/2013-14 dated September 10, 2013 , wherein, a decision to accept e-KYC service as a valid process for KYC verification under Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 was advised. It was further advised that the information containing demographic details and photographs made available from UIDAI as a result of e-KYC process (which is in an electronic form and accessible so as to be usable for a subsequent reference) may be treated as an ‘Officially Valid Document’ under PML Rules. 3. In this regard, it is clarified that, RRBs and StCBs/CCBs may accept e-Aadhaar downloaded from UIDAI website as an officially valid document subject to the following: If the prospective customer knows only his/her Aadhaar number, the bank may print the prospective customer’s e-Aadhaar letter in the bank directly from the UIDAI portal; or adopt e-KYC procedure as mentioned in the circular referred in paragraph 2 above. If the prospective customer carries a copy of the e-Aadhaar downloaded elsewhere, the bank may print the prospective customer’s e-Aadhaar letter in the bank directly from the UIDAI portal; or adopt e-KYC procedure as mentioned in the circular referred in paragraph 2 above, or confirm identity and address of the resident through simple authentication service of UIDAI. 4. Physical Aadhaar card/letter issued by UIDAI containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number received through post and e-KYC process mentioned in the circular referred in paragraph 2 above would continue to be accepted as an ‘Officially Valid Document’. 5. RRBs and StCBs/CCBs may revise their KYC policy in the light of the above instructions and ensure strict adherence to the same. Yours faithfully, (A. Udgata) Principal Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/518 · issued 13 Mar 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=8770&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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