The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning to make a major change to the Aadhaar card soon. This new Aadhaar card will not include printed personal information such as address and date of birth. It will only include a photo and a QR code. The reason for this major change is to prevent misuse of personal data and stop the practice of offline verification.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar announced this on Tuesday, saying that a new rule could be introduced in December that would eliminate the practice of taking photocopies of Aadhaar cards for offline verification at hotels, event organizers, and other venues. He clarified that if the details are printed on the card, people will assume it is genuine and misuse it, so only the photo and QR code should be present.
Why is this change necessary
The Aadhaar Act already prohibits the use of photocopies and offline verification. Despite this, many hotels, banks, and event companies still store physical copies of Aadhaar. UIDAI is now introducing legislation to discourage physical copy verification. Aadhaar can only be authenticated online using a QR code or number.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar further stated that Aadhaar should not be used solely as a document. It should only be verified using a number or QR code; otherwise, it could be faked. This decisive step will provide unprecedented strength to data security.
New Aadhaar App Will Replace mAadhaar
UIDAI has informed various stakeholders, including banks, hotels, and fintech companies, that a new app will soon be launched that will replace mAadhaar. This app is being developed in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and will be fully implemented within the next 18 months.
Some key features of the new Aadhaar app will be:
This app will facilitate updates to proof of address.
Facility to add family members without mobile phones.
Updating mobile numbers using face authentication.
Event entry, hotel check-in, cinema halls, age-restricted purchases, student verification, and society entry – all of these will have QR-based Aadhaar verification.
How the new Aadhaar verification process will work
Under the new system, Aadhaar verification will be conducted only online and through face verification. The Aadhaar holder will show the QR code to the scanner of the Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSE). The system will ask for face verification. This will also prove the Aadhaar holder’s physical presence. This process will be completely transparent and secure.
The OVSE app approval process will begin soon, followed by technical integration. This change will undoubtedly make Aadhaar usage more secure and unique.