Title - Aadhar to be mandatory for railway concessions

Aadhar (UID) Cards can be made mandatory to avail any kind of discounts offered by Indian Railways. Finance Minister Arun Jaitely can made this announcement during Budget session on February 1.

This move will help government to target benefits in an efficient way. It will also help government to check misuse of the facility. Concessional rail tickets are given under 50 categories like patients, sports people, unemployed youth, Arjun awardees, doctor, nurse, research scholars etc.

Already a pilot project is underway for senior citizens who are entitled for rail concessions only through their Aadhar Cards.

The concessional tickets cost the Railways about Rs 1,600 crore in 2015-16, with the bulk being accounted for senior citizens.