The Centre on Tuesday indicated that the mandatory Aadhaar linking deadline for various welfare schemes and other services shall be extended beyond the current deadline of March 31, 2018.

This may be effected by the government as some time shall be needed to complete the prolonged hearing in Aadhaar case.

"We have extended the deadline in the past and we will extend the deadline again but we may do it by the end of month to enable the petitioners in the case conclude the arguments," Venugopal, Attorney general, said.

In mid December last year, the date to link Aadhaar to various schemes and bank account was extended to March 31st from December 31, 2017.

"The deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes is March 31. This will have all India ramification as various institutions would have to adjust themselves accordingly," said Diwan senior advocate who earlier challenged arguments in relation to Aadhaar.

Earlier the industry body Assocham made the call to extend the deadline as the hard-pressed PSBs amid unearthing of PNB like scams are busy in safeguarding their core business.

With Inputs From PTI