CHANDIGARH: Union ministry of home affairs has introduced an online procedure for applying for Indian citizenship. It was made mandatory from December 1 that applications for citizenship are presented online. A spokesperson of Haryana home department said the application should be filed on the website, mha.nic.in. Once the form is submitted, an internet file number would be generated automatically for the applicant, which would allow him to track the status of the file.

NEW DELHI: Enrolment for obtaining Aadhaar number is voluntary and not mandatory, Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said Thursday.

The minister told the Rajya Sabha that the unique identification number (Aadhaar) to be issued to all Indian citizens would be proof of identity, not citizenship.

Aadhaar number would be an officially valid document as proof of identity and address for opening bank accounts, obtaining mobile telephone connections and new cooking gas connections, he said.