**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2073, concerning the linking of Aadhaar and Voter ID. The question, posed by Shri M K Raghavan, inquired about the number and percentage of voters who have linked their Aadhaar with Voter ID cards, state-wise and union territory-wise, as well as the government's intentions regarding mandatory linking in light of concerns over voter lists.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, responded that the Election Laws Amendment Act, 2021, permits Electoral Registration Officers to request Aadhaar numbers from existing or prospective electors on a voluntary basis for identity verification. The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a program on August 1, 2022, to collect Aadhaar numbers voluntarily from electors in all states and union territories, as per its instruction dated July 4, 2022. The response clarifies that the Aadhaar-Voter ID linking is currently voluntary.
Key Entities Referenced
Shri M K Raghavan: Member of Parliament who asked the question regarding linking of Aadhaar and Voter ID.
Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE: The Minister to whom the question was addressed.
SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL: MINISTER OF STATE INDEPENDENT CHARGE OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS who provided the answer.
Election Commission of India (ECI): The Election Commission of India, an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
Election Laws Amendment Act, 2021: The Act of Parliament that allows Electoral Registration Officers to require Aadhaar number for establishing identity on a voluntary basis.
Aadhaar: A 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India.
Voter ID: An identity card issued to eligible voters.
4th July, 2022: Date on which ECI launched the programme to collect Aadhaar number of existing and prospective electors on a voluntary basis.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2073
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 01st AUGUST, 2025
Linking of Aadhaar and Voter ID
2073. Shri M K Raghavan:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has data on the number and percentage of
voters who have linked their Aadhaar with Voter ID cards as per the latest
available figures, State-wise and Union Territory-wise;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to make the linking of Aadhaar with
Voter ID mandatory, in view of rising concerns over voter list; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (d): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed that the
Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, allows Electoral Registration Officers
to require the existing or prospective elector to provide the Aadhaar number
for the purpose of establishing identity on a voluntary basis. The ECI has
further stated that it has vide its instruction dated 4th July, 2022, has
launched the programme to collect the Aadhaar number of existing and
prospective electors on a voluntary basis from 1st August, 2022 in all States
and Union territories.
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