Ahmedabad, Mar 23 (KNN) The Ministry of MSME has informed the Gujarat High Court that linking of Aadhaar card is not mandatory while registering on Udyam. 

Enterprises can benefit from subsidies, financial assistance and other schemes being offered by the MSME ministry by registering on Udyam.

The HC was hearing a PIL challenging mandatory demand of Aadhaar card while registering under the Udyam.

Notification issued by the Ministry on June 26, 2020 was challenged by owners of a company by the name M/s Renovate Industries LLP.

It challenged the notification which mandatorily demanded Aadhaar number from the business person issued by the Ministry of MSME popularly known as Udyog Aadhaar.

It sought the High Court order to direct the authority to allow entrepreneurs or business persons to register their businesses with MSME Udyam scheme without an Aadhaar Card.

During the hearing, Vikas Kumar Gupta, Joint Director & Head of Office at MSME-Development & Facilitation Office in Ahmedabad filed affidavits stating that there is no need to supply Aadhaar and that registration can be done through some other mode.

The Aadhaar number is not used for registration purpose, but only for OTP-based verification of the person or authorized person for filing online Udyam registration. 

Aadhaar information is neither stored nor shared with anyone in the light of UIDAI provisions. 

However, PAN is a mandatory requirement for Udyam registration and for classification as micro, small and medium enterprises.  (KNN Bureau)