New Delhi, Oct. 25 (PTI): The deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to get the benefits of various government schemes would be extended till March 31 next year, the Union government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The deadline linking the biometric ID issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India was December this year. The counsel for the petitioners, who have challenged the government's move to make the biometric ID number mandatory for these schemes, raised the issue of the mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile telephone numbers. Senior advocate Shyam Divan said the main Aadhaar matter should be heard soon, since the government, while extending the deadline, has not dropped the warnings of action against those who do not want to link their Aadhaar with either bank accounts or mobile numbers. They can make a statement that they will not take course of action against those who don't want to link Aadhaar,” Divan said.

Source: The Telegraph October 25, 2017 11:56 UTC