New Delhi: From November, Aadhaar card holders may not longer have to queue up at designated centres to update details.
“You will soon be able to do everything sitting at home other than providing fingerprints and iris scans,” Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said recently.
Services that will be accessible remotely include address updates, phone number changes, name corrections, and rectification of incorrect birth dates, Kumar said.
UIDAI is also preparing to roll out a new system that will allow citizens to share their Aadhaar details electronically, either in full or using a masked version, through a QR code-enabled app. This development aims to eliminate the hassle of providing photocopies and streamline the process for millions of users.
According to Kumar, UIDAI has already equipped around 2,000 of its one lakh machines with this newly developed app. The app’s QR code feature is expected to play a significant role in preventing misuse of Aadhaar information. It will allow for secure, consent-based sharing of identity data for various purposes, ranging from hotel check-ins to real-time verification on trains.
“It offers maximum user control over your own data and can be shared only with consent,” Kumar said.
UIDAI is also working to extend the use of Aadhaar verification to property transactions, which are often susceptible to fraud. Kumar explained that sub-registrars and registrars could use the Aadhaar system to verify the credentials of individuals registering properties, thereby reducing fraudulent activities. State governments are being sensitised to adopt this verification process.
UIDAI is also coordinating with CBSE and other examination boards to ensure timely biometric updates for children at key age milestones. These updates are mandatory between the ages of 5 to 7 and again from 15 to 17 years.
“A special drive is planned so that the eight crore missing details for the first update (for kids between five and seven years) and 10 crore second update can be completed,” the CEO said.
Beyond government-mandated users, UIDAI is exploring partnerships with security agencies, hotels, and other private entities to expand the utility of Aadhaar in sectors where its use is not yet compulsory. These collaborations aim to bring greater security and convenience to both businesses and consumers.
