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—state-scheme:punjab:aadhaar-update [2026/07/18 16:40] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(rti for Aadhaar update in Punjab, Punjab Aadhaar update rti, UIDAI Chandigarh regional office rti, Aadhaar update pending Punjab, file rti UIDAI Punjab, rtionline.gov.in Aadhaar, Punjab Sewa Kendra Aadhaar rti)
 +metatag-description=(Aadhaar RTI in Punjab goes to UIDAI via rtionline.gov.in, not the state portal. Fee Rs 10, reply in 30 days, second appeal to the Central Information Commission.)
 +metatag-title=(RTI for Aadhaar Update in Punjab — 2026 Guide)}}
  
 +====== RTI for Aadhaar Update in Punjab ======
 +
 +<WRAP info>**Quick answer.** An Aadhaar update is a UIDAI service, and UIDAI is a Central public authority under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. So even if you live in Ludhiana, Amritsar or Bathinda, your RTI does **not** go to the Punjab portal at rti.punjab.gov.in — it goes to UIDAI through the Central portal at [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] with a Rs 10 fee, a 30-day reply clock under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act 2005, and a Second Appeal to the **Central Information Commission**, not the Punjab State Information Commission. The Punjab route only applies when a state-side counter (a Sewa Kendra, Suvidha Kendra or Common Service Centre) messed up the biometric capture or lost your documents.</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Who is the public authority for an Aadhaar update in Punjab? =====
 +
 +This is the single most important thing to get right, and most people get it wrong on the first try.
 +
 +Aadhaar is issued and updated by the **Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)**, a statutory authority established under the **Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016**. UIDAI is attached to the **Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)**, Government of India. That makes UIDAI a **Central public authority** for the purposes of the Right to Information Act, 2005 — not a Punjab state authority.
 +
 +What this means in practice, for a Punjab resident:
 +
 +^ Question ^ Answer ^ Why it matters ^
 +| Is UIDAI a Punjab state body? | **No.** It is a Central body under MeitY. | Decides which RTI Rules and which portal apply. |
 +| Which UIDAI office serves Punjab? | **UIDAI Regional Office, Chandigarh.** | Punjab falls in its jurisdiction along with Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh UT, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. |
 +| Which RTI Rules apply? | **Central RTI Rules, 2012** — not the Punjab RTI Rules, 2017. | The fee modes, page charges and appeal format are the Central ones. |
 +| Which portal accepts the RTI? | **[[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]]** (Central). | The Punjab portal rti.punjab.gov.in will reject a UIDAI application. |
 +| Where does the Second Appeal go? | **Central Information Commission (CIC)**, not the Punjab SIC. | The state commission has no jurisdiction over UIDAI. |
 +
 +UIDAI publishes its CPIO and First Appellate Authority list on its transparency page at [[https://uidai.gov.in/en/about-uidai/right-to-information.html|UIDAI RTI]], with the most recent Regional Office CPIO/FAA list dated 18 May 2026 and the headquarters CPIO/FAA appointment orders dated 26 May 2025. The **Nodal Officer (RTI Cell)** at UIDAI headquarters receives every RTI application and routes it to the correct CPIO.
 +
 +For full background on Aadhaar-specific RTI strategy — which update types are most often stuck, what to ask, and how to read the reply — read the parent guide [[/rti-for-aadhaar-update|RTI for Aadhaar update]]. This Punjab page only covers what is **genuinely state-specific**: jurisdiction, the Chandigarh office, the state-side counter problem, and how to tell which route to use.
 +
 +===== Where exactly do I file — Central portal or Punjab portal? =====
 +
 +File on the **Central portal**. Here is the decision in one line: if the information you want sits with UIDAI (update status, rejection reason, biometric record, enrolment operator logs), the RTI goes to UIDAI via [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]]. If the information sits with a Punjab state office (a Sewa Kendra that lost your documents, a state scheme that rejected your DBT because of an Aadhaar mismatch), the RTI goes to that Punjab office via [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]].
 +
 +A useful test: ask yourself **"Whose records would answer my question?"** If the answer is UIDAI's servers or UIDAI's regional file, go Central. If the answer is a slip printed at a Suvidha Kendra counter in Mohali, go state.
 +
 +^ Your problem ^ Where the records sit ^ File at ^ Portal ^
 +| Update pending 30+ days after biometric capture at a UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra | UIDAI | UIDAI CPIO | [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] |
 +| Update rejected with no reason given | UIDAI | UIDAI CPIO | [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] |
 +| Address updated but DBT / ration still not linking | UIDAI + state scheme | UIDAI first, then state | Both, separately |
 +| Sewa Kendra operator charged more than the fee | State (Punjab GO/Seva Kendra operator) | Concerned Punjab department | [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]] |
 +| Sewa Kendra lost your proof documents | State | Concerned Punjab department | [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]] |
 +| You want the operator's enrolment agent ID for a complaint | UIDAI | UIDAI CPIO | [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] |
 +
 +If you are not sure, file at UIDAI first — most Aadhaar-update problems originate there, and a clean UIDAI reply often settles the state-side question too. If you need help drafting the application from scratch, use the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] to generate a Section 6(1) application in under two minutes.
 +
 +===== What is the RTI fee for Aadhaar in Punjab? =====
 +
 +Because UIDAI is Central, the **Central RTI Rules, 2012** apply. The Punjab RTI Rules, 2017 do not set the fee for a UIDAI application — even though you physically live in Punjab.
 +
 +^ Fee head ^ Central RTI Rules 2012 (UIDAI applications) ^ Punjab RTI Rules 2017 (state-side Sewa Kendra applications) ^
 +| Application fee | **Rs 10** | **Rs 10** |
 +| Online portal extra charge | Rs 2 portal fee (so Rs 12 total online) | No separate portal charge on rti.punjab.gov.in |
 +| Below Poverty Line (BPL) applicant | **Exempt** — no fee on production of BPL proof | **Exempt** — same |
 +| Photocopy per A4 page | Rs 2 | Rs 2 |
 +| Printed or published book | Actual cost | Actual cost |
 +| CD or pen drive | Rs 50 per CD | Rs 50 per CD |
 +| Inspection of records | First hour free, then Rs 5 for each 15 minutes | First hour free, then Rs 5 per hour |
 +| Sample or model | Actual cost | Actual cost |
 +
 +Accepted fee modes for a **Central (UIDAI)** application, under Rule 3 of the Central RTI Rules 2012:
 +
 +  - **Online**: Indian Postal Order (eIPO), debit card, credit card, net banking through the [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] payment gateway.
 +  - **Offline by post**: Indian Postal Order (IPO) crossed and drawn in favour of the **Accounts Officer, UIDAI**, payable at the concerned office; or a Bank Draft in favour of the same.
 +  - **In person**: Cash against proper receipt at the UIDAI office counter.
 +
 +For the Punjab state route, the accepted modes are Court Fee Stamp of Rs 10, IPO, or Treasury challan under the head specified by the public authority — see [[/rti-fees-by-state|state-wise RTI fees]] for the full Punjab schedule.
 +
 +===== What questions should I ask in the Aadhaar RTI? =====
 +
 +Vague questions get vague replies. The trick is to ask for **status + reason + officer + timeline + daily progress**. Five questions is the sweet spot — fewer lets the CPIO off the hook, more dilutes the application and can attract extra page fees.
 +
 +For a Punjab resident whose update is stuck, the strongest five questions are:
 +
 +  - **Status**: "The current status of my Aadhaar update request No. ____, filed on ____ at ____ (enrolment agency / Aadhaar Seva Kendra), and the date by which it is expected to be disposed of."
 +  - **Reason**: "The specific, item-wise reason for the delay or rejection of the said update request, with reference to the relevant clause of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016."
 +  - **Officer**: "The name, designation, official email and office phone number of the UIDAI officer currently handling my update request."
 +  - **Progress**: "The daily-progress chart of my application from the date of receipt to the date of reply, including every internal note, exception log, and biometric-quality rejection recorded against my request."
 +  - **Remedy**: "The certified copy of the Standard Operating Procedure / internal circular governing the disposal of update requests of this type, and the prescribed service turnaround time for the same."
 +
 +These map directly to the citizen-RTI checklist in the [[/rti-for-aadhaar-update|parent Aadhaar RTI guide]]. If you want a ready-made letter with these five questions pre-filled and the right Section citations, paste your facts into the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]].
 +
 +===== What if the update was done at a Punjab Sewa Kendra or Suvidha Kendra? =====
 +
 +This is where the state route genuinely kicks in. Punjab runs a network of citizen-service counters — **Sewa Kendras** (operated under the Department of Governance Reforms), **Suvidha Kendras**, bank and post-office Aadhaar centres, and village-level **Common Service Centres (CSCs)** — that act as the **front-end** for UIDAI. UIDAI owns the back-end; the Kendra owns the counter experience.
 +
 +So when something goes wrong **at the counter**, the records are with the Kendra operator and the state department that empanelled them — not with UIDAI. That part is a Punjab state RTI.
 +
 +Counter-level problems that belong to the **state route**:
 +
 +  - Operator demanded more than the prescribed update fee (biometric update is Rs 100, demographic update is Rs 50 at UIDAI centres; counter-level overcharging is a state enforcement issue).
 +  - Operator refused to give an acknowledgement slip.
 +  - Operator misplaced or refused to scan your proof documents.
 +  - The Kendra was closed during posted hours, or the operator was absent.
 +  - Biometric capture was done negligently (e.g., fingerprint scanner dirty, iris camera misaligned) and the update failed for that reason.
 +
 +For any of these, file on [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]] against:
 +
 +^ State-level authority ^ Covers ^
 +| **Department of Governance Reforms, Punjab** (Sewa Kendra scheme parent department) | Sewa Kendra operations, operator empanelment, service standards |
 +| **District Bureau of Employment and Enterprises / Deputy Commissioner's office** | District-level service-delivery grievances |
 +| **Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Punjab** | Aadhaar-ration / NFSA linkage problems in Punjab |
 +| **Punjab State e-Governance Society** | e-District services that touch Aadhaar |
 +
 +A practical Punjab tip: many Sewa Kendra grievances are resolved faster by a written complaint to the **Deputy Commissioner** of your district under the Punjab Services of Guarantees Act, with an RTI filed in parallel to force the paper trail. The [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Tracker]] tool will count the 30-day clock for you and tell you the exact day your First Appeal is due.
 +
 +===== When can I file a First Appeal under Section 19(1)? =====
 +
 +A First Appeal under **Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005** is your first escalation. You can file it on any of three triggers:
 +
 +  - **No reply** within 30 days of the CPIO receiving your application.
 +  - **Incomplete, evasive or wrong reply**.
 +  - **Refusal to provide information** that you believe was wrongly refused.
 +
 +The clock is strict. Under **Section 7(1)**, the CPIO must reply within 30 days. If you get nothing by day 31, the First Appeal is immediately ripe — and under **Section 7(6)**, if the information is delayed beyond 30 days it must be provided **free of charge**.
 +
 +^ Stage ^ Day (from CPIO receipt of your RTI) ^ Action ^
 +| Reply due | Day 30 | CPIO must reply under Section 7(1) |
 +| First Appeal window opens | Day 31 (if no/wrong reply) | File under Section 19(1) |
 +| First Appeal window closes | Day 60 | A "reasonable cause" is required after this |
 +| First Appeal decision due | Within 30 days of FAA receipt (extendable to 45) | Section 19(6) |
 +| Second Appeal window opens | Day after FAA decision (or 45 days after FAA receipt if no decision) | File under Section 19(3) |
 +| Second Appeal deadline | Within 90 days | To the CIC for UIDAI matters |
 +
 +For a UIDAI application, the **First Appellate Authority (FAA)** is named in UIDAI's CPIO/FAA list — for Punjab-related matters the FAA is ordinarily at the **UIDAI Regional Office, Chandigarh**, with a fallback FAA at UIDAI Headquarters in New Delhi. The FAA list is published at [[https://uidai.gov.in/en/about-uidai/right-to-information.html|UIDAI RTI]]; the Regional Office list was last refreshed on 18 May 2026.
 +
 +Build your First Appeal with the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/first-appeal-app.html|First Appeal Builder]] — it pre-cites Section 19(1), pulls in your original application number, and flags the "free of charge" argument under Section 7(6) automatically.
 +
 +===== How do I escalate to a Second Appeal? =====
 +
 +For an Aadhaar RTI from Punjab, the **Second Appeal under Section 19(3)** goes to the **Central Information Commission (CIC)** — not the Punjab State Information Commission. This is the second place people get tripped up, because it *feels* like a state matter.
 +
 +The CIC is at August Kranti Bhavan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi - 110066; its portal is [[https://cic.gov.in/|cic.gov.in]]. Second appeals can also be filed online through the CIC's online registration system.
 +
 +Timelines for the Second Appeal:
 +
 +  - File **within 90 days** from the day you received the FAA's decision (or from the day the 45-day FAA window expired with no decision).
 +  - The CIC may admit a late appeal if you show "sufficient cause" for the delay under the second proviso to Section 19(3).
 +  - There is **no fee** for a Second Appeal to the CIC under the Central RTI Rules 2012.
 +
 +For contrast — the **Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC)** sits at Red Cross Building, Near Rose Garden, Sector 16, Chandigarh - 160016, and its site is [[https://infocommpunjab.com/|infocommpunjab.com]]. The PSIC is the correct Second Appeal body **only** when your underlying RTI went to a Punjab state public authority (Sewa Kendra, district office, state department). Confusing the two commissions is the most common single mistake on Aadhaar RTIs in Punjab — and it costs you the 90-day window.
 +
 +^ Your RTI went to... ^ First Appeal to ^ Second Appeal to ^
 +| UIDAI (Central) | UIDAI FAA at RO Chandigarh or HQ | **Central Information Commission** |
 +| A Punjab state PA (Sewa Kendra, district office) | The PA's FAA | **Punjab State Information Commission**, Sector 16 Chandigarh |
 +| MeitY (parent ministry) | MeitY FAA | **Central Information Commission** |
 +
 +The [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/timeline-calculator-app.html|Timeline Tracker]] will compute every one of these dates from a single input — the date your RTI was received.
 +
 +===== What if UIDAI rejected my Aadhaar update — can RTI fix it? =====
 +
 +An RTI cannot **order** UIDAI to approve your update — that is not what the RTI Act does. What RTI does is force UIDAI to **show its working**: the rejection reason, the regulation clause, the operator ID, the biometric quality score, and the internal SOP. Once you have that paper trail in hand, two things usually happen:
 +
 +  - The rejection reason turns out to be curable (a document mismatch, a fingerprint-quality failure, a name transliteration error), and a fresh update with the right documents clears it.
 +  - The rejection reason turns out to be wrong, and you attach the RTI reply to a grievance on the **UIDAI grievance portal** or a complaint to the **Aadhaar Ombudsman**. The reply is your evidence.
 +
 +The **UIDAI helpline 1947** (toll-free, 1800-300-1947) and **[email protected]** are the first-line grievance channels. For Punjab-specific escalations, the **UIDAI Regional Office, Chandigarh** also runs a grievance cell at **[email protected]** and a direct line at **0172-2711947** — useful when the central helpline cannot see a regional hold. Run the [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/pio-reply-checker-app.html|PIO Reply Checker]] over whatever reply you get; it flags evasive or non-compliant answers and tells you whether you have grounds for a First Appeal.
 +
 +===== What information can UIDAI legally withhold? =====
 +
 +UIDAI leans heavily on **Section 8(1)(j)** (personal information) and **Section 8(1)(d)** (commercial confidence / intellectual property) when refusing Aadhaar-related requests. Some of these refusals are legitimate, many are not.
 +
 +^ Information requested ^ Usual UIDAI stance ^ Actual legal position ^
 +| Status of your own update request | Provided | Correctly disclosed |
 +| Reason for rejection of your own update | Often refused | Must be disclosed — it is your own record |
 +| Name and designation of officer handling your file | Often refused | Must be disclosed under Section 4(1)(b) and settled CIC jurisprudence |
 +| Internal SOP / service turnaround | Refused as "internal" | Disclosable once a decision is taken on your case |
 +| Another person's Aadhaar data | Refused | **Correctly refused** under Section 8(1)(j) |
 +| Core biometric template (fingerprint/iris raw data) | Refused | **Correctly refused** under Section 28 of the Aadhaar Act 2016 and Section 8(1)(j) RTI |
 +| Enrolment operator ID and agency code | Often refused | Disclosable to the extent it relates to your own transaction |
 +| Aggregated / statistical pendency | Refused | Generally disclosable; aggregation kills the personal-info exemption |
 +
 +The pattern: your **own** transactional information is yours and must be disclosed; **someone else's** biometric or identity data is protected, and correctly so. UIDAI's habit of refusing the former by citing the latter is exactly what a First Appeal is for. The [[/cases|case-law database]] has a batch of CIC orders reversing exactly this kind of blanket refusal — search "UIDAI Section 8(1)(j)" before you draft your appeal.
 +
 +===== How long does the whole RTI journey take in Punjab? =====
 +
 +Assuming a clean filing and reasonable cause shown for any delay, the realistic timeline for an Aadhaar RTI from Punjab is:
 +
 +^ Milestone ^ Day from filing ^
 +| CPIO reply (or deemed refusal) | Day 30 |
 +| First Appeal filed | Day 31-45 |
 +| First Appeal decision | Day 60-75 |
 +| Second Appeal filed | Day 75-135 (within 90 days of FAA outcome) |
 +| Second Appeal registration at CIC | +2-4 weeks |
 +| CIC hearing listed | Typically 6-18 months from registration |
 +| Final CIC order | 1-3 months after hearing |
 +
 +This is the central-route timeline, because UIDAI is Central. The Punjab SIC timeline (for the rare state-side Aadhaar-adjacent RTI) is broadly similar on paper but the PSIC runs hybrid hearings with a video-conferencing facility at its Sector 16 Chandigarh office — useful if you cannot travel.
 +
 +A note on the **deemed refusal** tactic: under **Section 7(2)**, if the CPIO does not reply within 30 days, the request is deemed refused and you can go straight to First Appeal without waiting for a "no". Many Punjab applicants lose 30 days here by waiting for a letter that is never coming.
 +
 +===== A real-life Punjab illustration =====
 +
 +<WRAP center round info 100%>
 +**Illustrative composite.** The following is a teaching composite assembled from typical UIDAI grievance patterns in Punjab. The name and identifying details are not those of a single real applicant; the workflow, timelines and statutory steps are real.
 +
 +Harpreet Kaur, a small farmer from **Bathinda**, gave her biometric update at a Sewa Kendra on 12 February 2026 to correct a name transliteration. She paid the Rs 50 demographic-update fee and got an acknowledgement with update request number 9020-XXXXX-XXXXX. By 20 March — well past UIDAI's normal turnaround — the UIDAI portal still showed "Under Process". The Sewa Kendra operator said "server de masla hai" (it is a server problem) and asked her to come back in a week, then another week.
 +
 +On 22 March Harpreet filed an RTI on [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] against UIDAI, paid Rs 10 plus Rs 2 portal fee, and asked the five questions above. On Day 28 the CPIO replied that the update had been **rejected** on 9 March for "biometric data quality below threshold" — even though she had only filed a demographic (name) update. That reply exposed the real problem: the operator had keyed in a biometric re-capture by mistake and the new fingerprints had failed quality checks.
 +
 +Armed with that reply, Harpreet filed a First Appeal under Section 19(1) on Day 32 to the FAA at UIDAI Regional Office Chandigarh, arguing the rejection reason did not match the update type she had requested. The FAA directed the CPIO to re-process the demographic update on the original documents; the corrected Aadhaar was generated 19 days later. Total elapsed time from the stuck point to a clean Aadhaar: **51 days**. Total cost: **Rs 12** plus two Speed Posts.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +The lessons from Harpreet's composite apply across Punjab — from Jalandhar and Ludhiana to the rural Malwa and Doaba belts. The Sewa Kendra will not volunteer the rejection reason; only an RTI reply will. And only a First Appeal that **quotes the reply back at the FAA** moves the file.
 +
 +===== Sample RTI application for a stuck Aadhaar update =====
 +
 +<code>
 +To,
 +The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
 +Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI),
 +Regional Office, SCO 95-98, Ground & Second Floor,
 +Sector 17-B, Chandigarh - 160017.
 +
 +Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005
 +         regarding Aadhaar update request No. ________ filed on ________.
 +
 +Sir/Madam,
 +
 +I, ________ (son/daughter/wife of ________), resident of
 +________ (full Punjab address), PIN ________, being a citizen of India,
 +hereby seek the following information under Section 6(1) read with
 +Section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, relating to my
 +Aadhaar update request detailed below:
 +
 +  - Name of applicant: ________
 +  - Aadhaar number (last 4 digits only, for identification): XXXX
 +  - Update Request Number (URN): ________
 +  - Date of update request: ________
 +  - Enrolment Agency / Aadhaar Seva Kendra / Sewa Kendra location: ________
 +  - Type of update requested: demographic / biometric / both
 +
 +Information solicited:
 +
 +1. The current status of my above update request and the date by
 +   which it is expected to be finally disposed of.
 +
 +2. The specific, item-wise reason for any delay, hold, or rejection
 +   recorded against my update request, with reference to the relevant
 +   clause of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016.
 +
 +3. The name, designation, official email address and direct office
 +   telephone number of the UIDAI officer currently handling my
 +   update request.
 +
 +4. A certified copy of the daily-progress chart and internal notes,
 +   exception logs, and biometric-quality rejection entries recorded
 +   against my update request from the date of its receipt to the
 +   date on which this reply is given.
 +
 +5. A certified copy of the Standard Operating Procedure / internal
 +   circular governing the disposal of update requests of the type I
 +   have filed, and the prescribed service turnaround time for the same.
 +
 +I state that the information sought is not falling under any of the
 +exemptions in Section 8 and 9 of the RTI Act, 2005, to the extent it
 +pertains to my own transactional record. I am an individual applicant
 +(not BPL) and have affixed the prescribed fee of Rs 10 by way of
 +Indian Postal Order No. ________ dated ________ drawn in favour of
 +the "Accounts Officer, UIDAI", payable at Chandigarh.
 +
 +In case the information is denied, please cite the specific sub-section
 +of Section 8 or 9 relied upon, along with the reasons therefor, as
 +required under Section 7(8) of the RTI Act, 2005.
 +
 +Period for reply: 30 days from the receipt of this application, as
 +mandated under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. If the information
 +is not provided within the said period, I reserve the right to prefer
 +a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the Act.
 +
 +Place: ________ (Punjab)
 +Date: ________
 +
 +(Signature)
 +Name: ________
 +Address: ________
 +Mobile / Email: ________
 +</code>
 +
 +If your matter is the **state-side** variant (a Sewa Kendra overcharged you or lost your documents), swap the addressee to the **State Public Information Officer, Department of Governance Reforms, Government of Punjab**, file via [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]], and pay the Rs 10 fee by Court Fee Stamp or IPO under the **Punjab RTI Rules, 2017** — the First Appeal then runs to the state FAA and the Second Appeal to the **Punjab State Information Commission**, Sector 16 Chandigarh. The [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/ai-rti-draft-app.html|AI RTI Drafter]] will produce either variant from your facts.
 +
 +===== Office and authority hierarchy at a glance =====
 +
 +^ Level ^ Central route (UIDAI — most Aadhaar cases) ^ Punjab state route (Sewa Kendra counter cases) ^
 +| Public authority | UIDAI under MeitY | Department of Governance Reforms, Punjab / host department |
 +| CPIO / PIO | UIDAI CPIO at RO Chandigarh (fallback: HQ New Delhi) | SPIO of the concerned Punjab department |
 +| Fee Rules | **Central RTI Rules, 2012** (Rs 10) | **Punjab RTI Rules, 2017** (Rs 10) |
 +| Fee mode online | [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]] (Rs 10 + Rs 2 portal) | [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]] (Rs 10) |
 +| First Appellate Authority | UIDAI FAA at RO Chandigarh / HQ | Departmental FAA, Government of Punjab |
 +| Second Appeal body | **Central Information Commission**, New Delhi | **Punjab State Information Commission**, Chandigarh |
 +| Second Appeal fee | Nil | Nil |
 +| RTI Act sections | 6(1), 7(1), 7(6), 19(1), 19(3), 19(6) | Same |
 +
 +===== Punjab districts served by UIDAI Regional Office Chandigarh =====
 +
 +The UIDAI Regional Office at Chandigarh is the single point of contact for **all 23 districts of Punjab**. There is no separate UIDAI office inside Punjab; everything routes through Chandigarh (with headquarters backup from New Delhi).
 +
 +^ Region ^ Districts covered by RO Chandigarh ^
 +| Majha | Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran |
 +| Doaba | Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr (Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar) |
 +| Malwa | Ludhiana, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala |
 +| Powadh / Greater Mohali | SAS Nagar (Mohali), Rupnagar (Ropar), Ajitgarh |
 +| Border / northern | Pathankot (also listed above), Gurdaspur |
 +
 +If you prefer to file in person rather than online, the **Aadhaar Seva Kendra** network operated directly by UIDAI (distinct from state-run Sewa Kendras) has ASKs in **Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar**; these are open seven days a week from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and handle both enrolment and update. Book a slot on [[https://uidai.gov.in/|uidai.gov.in]] before walking in.
 +
 +===== Frequently asked questions =====
 +
 +==== Can I file the Aadhaar RTI on the Punjab portal rti.punjab.gov.in? ====
 +
 +No — not for the Aadhaar update itself. The Punjab portal only accepts RTIs against Punjab **state** public authorities. UIDAI is a **Central** authority, so the correct portal is [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]]. Filing on the Punjab portal will get your application returned as "not maintainable" and you will lose weeks.
 +
 +==== Is the Punjab State Information Commission the right Second Appeal body for an Aadhaar RTI? ====
 +
 +No. Because UIDAI is Central, the Second Appeal goes to the **Central Information Commission (CIC)** at [[https://cic.gov.in/|cic.gov.in]]. The Punjab State Information Commission at Sector 16 Chandigarh only hears Second Appeals against Punjab state public authorities.
 +
 +==== What is the RTI fee for an Aadhaar application from a Punjab resident? ====
 +
 +Rs 10, paid under the **Central RTI Rules, 2012** (online Rs 10 plus Rs 2 portal charge on [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]]). BPL applicants are exempt on production of proof. The Punjab RTI Rules, 2017 fee of Rs 10 applies only when the underlying RTI is against a Punjab state body.
 +
 +==== How many days does UIDAI have to reply to my RTI? ====
 +
 +**30 days** from the date the CPIO receives your application, under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. If no reply arrives by day 31, the request is deemed refused under Section 7(2) and you can file a First Appeal immediately.
 +
 +==== Which UIDAI office serves my district in Punjab? ====
 +
 +All 23 districts of Punjab are served by the **UIDAI Regional Office, Chandigarh**, SCO 95-98, Ground and Second Floor, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh - 160017 (phone 0172-2711947; email [email protected]). There is no separate UIDAI office inside Punjab.
 +
 +==== My update was done at a Sewa Kendra that overcharged me — which RTI route? ====
 +
 +That is a **state** matter. File against the **Department of Governance Reforms, Government of Punjab** (or the host department of the Kendra) on [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]], with First Appeal to the departmental FAA and Second Appeal to the **Punjab State Information Commission**.
 +
 +==== What if my Aadhaar update is linked to a Punjab scheme like old-age pension or ration? ====
 +
 +File two RTIs. One to **UIDAI** (Central) for the update status and rejection reason; one to the **Punjab department running the scheme** (state) — typically the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development for pensions, or the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs for ration / NFSA linkage — for the scheme-side seeding status. Both are legitimate and both move the file.
 +
 +==== Can I ask for the operator's name who handled my update? ====
 +
 +Yes, to the extent it relates to **your own** transaction. UIDAI often refuses this under Section 8(1)(j), but settled CIC jurisprudence treats the operator ID and agency code as disclosable when tied to a specific citizen transaction. Cite Section 4(1)(b) and the relevant CIC orders in your First Appeal.
 +
 +==== Can I get my raw biometric data through RTI? ====
 +
 +No. Raw biometric information — fingerprint and iris templates — is protected under **Section 28 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016** and is also exempt under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. This refusal is legally correct and will not be overturned on appeal. You are entitled to the **status** of your biometric update, not the biometric itself.
 +
 +==== Is there a fee for the Second Appeal? ====
 +
 +No. Neither the **Central Information Commission** nor the **Punjab State Information Commission** charges a fee for a Second Appeal under Section 19(3).
 +
 +==== How do I pay the Rs 10 fee if I file by post from a Punjab village? ====
 +
 +Buy an **Indian Postal Order (IPO)** of Rs 10 at any post office, cross it, and draw it in favour of **"Accounts Officer, UIDAI"**, payable at Chandigarh. Write your RTI application number on the IPO and attach it to the printed application. Speed Post the envelope to the CPIO at UIDAI Regional Office Chandigarh and keep the Speed Post tracking number — it is your proof of delivery and starts the 30-day clock.
 +
 +==== What is the UIDAI helpline number for Punjab residents? ====
 +
 +**1947** (toll-free, also 1800-300-1947) and **[email protected]**. The helpline operates from early morning to late night and handles update-status queries. For a Chandigarh-region-specific hold, also email **[email protected]** or call the Regional Office on 0172-2711947.
 +
 +==== Can an NRI from Punjab file this RTI? ====
 +
 +Only an Indian citizen can file an RTI, and Aadhaar for NRIs is issued only on a voluntary basis under the Aadhaar Act. An NRI who is an Indian citizen and holds an Aadhaar that is stuck in update can file the RTI; the fee must be paid in Indian rupees through the online portal or an IPO purchased in India.
 +
 +===== Trust, expertise and sources =====
 +
 +<WRAP>
 +**Reviewed for accuracy by Dr. Shrawan Kumar Pathak** (RTI practitioner; 14+ years filing and appealing RTI applications across Central and state public authorities, including UIDAI) and **Kashvi Pathak** (RTI Wiki editorial team). Statutory citations checked against the **Right to Information Act, 2005** ([[https://righttoinformation.wiki/act|full text on RTI Wiki]]), the **Central RTI Rules, 2012**, the **Punjab RTI Rules, 2017**, the **Aadhaar Act, 2016** and the **Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016**. UIDAI CPIO/FAA lists verified on the UIDAI transparency page (Regional Office list dated 18 May 2026; HQ appointment orders dated 26 May 2025).
 +
 +**Primary sources:**
 +  - UIDAI Right to Information page: [[https://uidai.gov.in/en/about-uidai/right-to-information.html|uidai.gov.in RTI]]
 +  - UIDAI Regional Office Chandigarh: [[https://uidai.gov.in/en/contact-support/regional-offices/uidai-regional-office,-chandigarh.html|UIDAI RO Chandigarh]]
 +  - Central RTI online portal: [[https://rtionline.gov.in/|rtionline.gov.in]]
 +  - Central Information Commission: [[https://cic.gov.in/|cic.gov.in]]
 +  - Central RTI Rules, 2012 (PMO copy): [[https://www.pmindia.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/RTIRules_2012_English_0.pdf|RTI Rules 2012 PDF]]
 +  - MeitY CPIO / Appellate Authorities: [[https://www.meity.gov.in/connect/rti|MeitY RTI]]
 +  - Punjab RTI portal: [[https://rti.punjab.gov.in/|rti.punjab.gov.in]]
 +  - Punjab State Information Commission: [[https://infocommpunjab.com/|infocommpunjab.com]]
 +  - Punjab RTI Rules, 2017: [[https://infocommpunjab.com/htm/documents/Punjab_RTI_Rules_2017.pdf|Punjab RTI Rules 2017 PDF]]
 +  - UIDAI helpline and contact: [[https://uidai.gov.in/en/contact-support.html|UIDAI Contact & Support]]
 +
 +**Last reviewed: 18 July 2026.** Next scheduled check: January 2027 (or earlier if UIDAI revises its CPIO list or the Central RTI Rules are amended).
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
 +
 +  * [[/rti-for-aadhaar-update|RTI for Aadhaar update — the full parent guide]]
 +  * [[/state-scheme/punjab/start|All RTI schemes for Punjab]]
 +  * [[/scheme-state/aadhaar-update/start|RTI for Aadhaar update across all states]]
 +  * [[/state-rti-portals-directory|State-wise RTI portals directory]]
 +  * [[/rti-fees-by-state|State-wise RTI fees]]
 +  * [[/act|RTI Act, 2005 — full text]]
 +  * [[/cases|Case-law database (CIC and High Court orders)]]
 +  * [[/state-scheme/punjab/pmay|RTI for PMAY in Punjab]]
 +  * [[/state-scheme/punjab/ration-card|RTI for ration card in Punjab]]
 +  * [[/state-scheme/punjab/pension|RTI for Punjab pensions]]
 +
 +{{tag>punjab aadhaar-update state-scheme citizen-rti matrix-enriched}}