Why Linking Your Bank Account for DBT is Essential
The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) manages the country’s entire payment system. A key part of this system is DBT, or Direct Benefit Transfer. If your bank account is not linked for DBT, you will not receive money from any government scheme, no matter how many application forms you fill out. The government uses Direct Benefit Transfer to send funds from all its schemes directly into the beneficiary’s bank account.
For example, the ₹6,000 you receive under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is sent directly to your account through DBT. The purpose of this system, as emphasized by the government, is to eliminate middlemen and ensure that funds like those from PM Awas Yojana or PM Ujjwala Yojana reach citizens directly. For this to happen, your bank account must be properly linked with NPCI.
Step 1: Check Your Current Aadhaar Mapping Status
Before starting a new linking process, you should first check if your account is already enabled for DBT.
How to Check Your Status
- Navigate to the NPCI portal and click on the Consumer option.
- On the next page, select the option for Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE).
- From the options that appear, click on Get Aadhaar Mapped Status.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and fill in the captcha code.
- Click on “Check Status.” An OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar.
- Enter the OTP and click “Submit.”
- The system will now show your status. If it is active, you will see a message saying “Enabled for DBT” along with your Aadhaar number, the date the linking was done, and the name of your bank. If it is not linked, it will show as “Disabled for DBT.” If your status is enabled, you do not need to do anything further.
Step 2: How to Request for Aadhaar Seeding (If Disabled)
If your status shows as disabled, you can follow these steps on the same portal to submit a request to link your account.
- On the Bharat Aadhaar Seeding Enabler (BASE) page, click the arrow and select the first option, Request For Aadhaar Seeding.
- Enter your Aadhaar number.
- Select your bank from the list provided.
- Choose the Fresh Seeding option.
- Carefully enter your bank account number, and then enter it again in the “Confirm Account Number” field.
- Provide your consent by ticking both checkboxes.
- Fill in the security captcha code and click the Proceed button.
- An OTP will now be sent to the mobile number that is linked to your bank account.
- Enter this OTP to complete the form submission.
What Happens After You Submit the Request?
Once you submit the form, you will be given a request number for your reference. The process to enable DBT is typically completed within 48 hours. However, some banks may take up to 7 days to process the request. After this period, your bank account will be seeded with Aadhaar and enabled for receiving Direct Benefit Transfers from all government schemes.
