Aadhaar Mismatch Rules Stall Vehicle Ownership Transfers Across Maharashtra
A new mandatory Aadhaar authentication requirement for vehicle ownership transfers and No Objection Certificates has triggered widespread disruptions across Maharashtra, leaving thousands of online applications stalled over minor discrepancies between names on Registration Certificates and Aadhaar cards.
The disruption, which has persisted for roughly two weeks, prompted the state transporters' association to approach the Pune Regional Transport Office seeking relief. The issue stems from a revised workflow introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the VAHAN 4.0 system, which integrated Aadhaar-based e-KYC into digital services for ownership transfers and NOCs.
Under the updated system, if the name entered on an RC does not match the Aadhaar record exactly, the portal flags a mismatch error and blocks the applicant from finishing the transaction. The problem has particularly affected buyers of used vehicles, who often complete purchases only to find that the transfer cannot proceed due to slight differences in spelling, initials, or name sequence on the previous owner's documents.
To resolve the block, vehicle owners must first update their Aadhaar records before attempting authentication again, leading to repeated visits to transport offices. In Pune alone, the RTO handles approximately 1,000 RC transfer applications daily, while total applications across Maharashtra run into several thousand each day.
Bal Malkit Singh, adviser and former president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, stated that demanding exact name matches creates major hurdles for genuine vehicle owners whose documents carry minor variations. Singh urged authorities to provide sufficient time for corrections rather than halting transfers immediately, suggesting that officials accept interim documents such as undertakings, affidavits, or indemnity bonds.
Wadala Regional Transport Officer Pallavi Kothawade appealed to vehicle owners to follow the updated online workflow and resolve any discrepancies between their Aadhaar and RC records in advance. She noted that checking and updating details beforehand is vital for individuals planning to buy or sell pre-owned vehicles to avoid post-transaction delays.
Transporters have called on authorities to introduce a transition mechanism, pointing out that legacy records often differ from Aadhaar formatting despite belonging to the same individual.
