The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is considering issuing a simplified Aadhaar card that displays only the holder’s photograph and a QR code. The move aims to curb data misuse and discourage offline verification practices that violate current regulations, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said during an online conference on Tuesday.
Kumar explained that many organisations—such as hotels and event managers—continue to Collect photocopies of Aadhaar cards, even though the Aadhaar Act prohibits collecting, storing or using Aadhaar numbers or biometrics for offline verification. He said UIDAI is preparing rules that will discourage such practices, with the proposal to be reviewed on December 1. “Aadhaar should not be treated as a document. It must be authenticated through the Aadhaar number or QR code; printed details can be misused,” he noted.
UIDAI has also briefed banks, hotels, and fintech companies about a new Aadhaar app that will soon replace the mAadhaar app. The upcoming app will support features aligned with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and will allow users to update address documents, add family members without mobile phones, and update mobile numbers using face authentication.
Officials added that the app will streamline identity and age verification for uses such as hotel check-ins, event entry, and access to restricted products, while enabling entities to authenticate both online and confirm physical presence via QR scanning and face verification.
