Explained: What is Section 57?

New Delhi, Sep 26: The five-judge Constitution Bench has struck down the Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act that allows private entities to use Aadhaar for verification purpose.

Section 57 allows not only the State but also any "body corporate or person" or private entity to demand Aadhaar from citizens for the purpose of identification.

It is this provision that gives statutory support to mobile companies, private service providers to seek individuals' Aadhaar card for identification purposes.

Section 57 says "nothing contained in this Act (Aadhaar Act) shall prevent the use of Aadhaar number for establishing the identity of an individual for any purpose, whether by the State or any body corporate or person..."

Section 33(2) that allows UIDAI to share data with specially authorised officers in the interest of national security, has also been struck down.

Here's how SC verdict on Aadhaar will affect you:

• Digital wallets like Paytm or Amazon Pay Balance cannot demand Aadhaar data from customers in order to do a verification and allow them to continue using the services.
• Telecom service providers like Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone and others can no longer force users to link their Aadhaar card to their current mobile number.
• Aadhaar for school education would not be necessary.
• You do not need Aadhaar to sit for government job exams or UGC, CBSE, NEET.