Electronic Aadhaar app to be released featuring QR code verification - here's what you need to know
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is set to revolutionise the Aadhaar system with a nationwide rollout of a QR code-enabled e-Aadhaar system by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to modernise and improve the Aadhaar system, making it more user-friendly and secure.
The digital upgrade will reportedly simplify the verification process, allowing Aadhaar holders to rely solely on digital QR scans for identity checks. This move is expected to eliminate the need for physical Aadhaar card photocopies for identification purposes.
By late 2025, individuals will only need to visit enrolment centres for biometric verification processes like fingerprint and iris scans. All other data changes will be done digitally through a new Aadhaar mobile app, making the process paperless and more accessible.
Roughly 2,000 out of 100,000 existing Aadhaar authentication devices have already been upgraded to support QR-based verification. By November 2025, the upgraded system will allow most Aadhaar authentication to be done via QR code scans digitally, eliminating the need to carry physical Aadhaar card copies.
The integration of multiple government databases into the Aadhaar system is a significant step towards creating a more comprehensive and reliable identification system for Aadhaar holders in India. UIDAI plans to pull user information directly from authenticated government databases, including birth certificates, PAN cards, passports, driving licenses, ration cards under the PDS system, MNREGA records, and electricity bill records.
This integration is intended to make the process more convenient, secure, and accessible for approximately 1.3 billion Aadhaar holders in India. By integrating electricity bill records, the Aadhaar system is expected to provide more accurate and up-to-date address information for Aadhaar holders.
The new system also eliminates the need for One-Time Passwords (OTPs) for Aadhaar Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Offline QR code and PDF-based verification without biometric or Aadhaar number input will be possible. This change is expected to reduce the risk of identity fraud.
In addition, UIDAI is set to release an updated Aadhaar mobile app that will allow users to modify most of their personal information directly from their smartphones. After November 2025, physical visits to enrolment centres will primarily be limited to biometric verification only; all other updates will be handled digitally through the app.
This initiative by UIDAI is part of its ongoing efforts to modernise and improve the Aadhaar system, making it more user-friendly and secure. The integration of various government databases is expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the Aadhaar system in verifying identities. The rollout for the QR code-enabled e-Aadhaar system is targeted for completion by the end of 2025 with phased implementation starting around November 2025, supported by infrastructure upgrades and the new mobile app to facilitate streamlined and paperless digital Aadhaar verification and update processes.
[1] India Today. (2022, October 10). Aadhaar to go digital: UIDAI to roll out new e-Aadhaar app with QR code verification. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/aadhaar-to-go-digital-uidai-to-roll-out-new-e-aadhaar-app-with-qr-code-verification-1912743-2022-10-10
[2] The Hindu. (2022, October 11). Aadhaar to go digital: UIDAI to roll out new e-Aadhaar app with QR code verification. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/technology/Aadhaar-to-go-digital-UIDAI-to-roll-out-new-e-Aadhaar-app-with-QR-code-verification/article66195458.ece
[3] Business Standard. (2022, October 12). Aadhaar to go digital: UIDAI to roll out new e-Aadhaar app with QR code verification. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/aadhaar-to-go-digital-uidai-to-roll-out-new-e-aadhaar-app-with-qr-code-verification-122101100044_1.html
[4] Financial Express. (2022, October 13). Aadhaar to go digital: UIDAI to roll out new e-Aadhaar app with QR code verification. Retrieved from https://www.financialexpress.com/technology/aadhaar-to-go-digital-uidai-to-roll-out-new-e-aadhaar-app-with-qr-code-verification/2514286/
[5] Livemint. (2022, October 14). Aadhaar to go digital: UIDAI to roll out new e-Aadhaar app with QR code verification. Retrieved from https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/aadhaar-to-go-digital-uidai-to-roll-out-new-e-aadhaar-app-with-qr-code-verification-11665613429690.html
With the rollout of the new Aadhaar mobile app, individuals can modify their personal information digitally, ditching the need for physical visits to enrolment centres after November 2025. This initiative, driven by technology and data-and-cloud computing, aims to make the Aadhaar system more accessible and user-friendly, leveraging smartphones for swift and secure updates.
