PAN 2.0 to Introduce Enhanced QR Codes: Ministry of Finance

The Ministry of Finance has recently given detailed answers to questions raised by Shri Saket Gokhale, an Indian Member of Parliament, regarding the PAN 2.0 Project. The questions raised were as follows:

(a) Please state from which year PAN cards have been issued with a QR code printed on them.
(b) Please state the difference between older PAN cards with QR codes and the new PAN cards proposed to be issued under PAN 2.0 project..
(c) Please state details of the companies that have been awarded the contract for the PAN 2.0 project, along with the tender/contract amount.

The QR codes on the person’s PAN card help verify a person’s identity using information stored in the PAN database. As per the Ministry of Finance, PAN cards with a printed QR code have been issued since 2017.

Differentiating between the older PAN cards and the new PAN cards under the PAN 2.0 project, the ministry stated that both the older PAN card and the new PAN Card that will be issued under the PAN 2.0 project have a QR code. But, under the upcoming PAN 2.0 project, the government plans to enhance these QR codes. The new version will have the dynamic QR codes, which will display the most recent details available in the PAN database.

There is no need to worry for those who already have a PAN card. Existing cards will continue to be valid, and there is no requirement to apply for a new one under PAN 2.0, as per the ministry.

As of now, the government has not awarded any contract for the PAN 2.0 project.