The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is considering issuing Aadhaar cards featuring only the holder’s photo and a QR code to curb misuse of personal data and discourage offline verification practices, a senior official said on Tuesday.
In an open online conference about a new Aadhaar app, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the authority is planning to introduce a rule in December aimed at preventing offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organizers, and others, while strengthening age verification processes.
“There is a thought process as to why there should be any detail on the card. It should be only a photo and a QR code. If we keep printing, then people will keep accepting what is printed. People who know how to misuse it will keep misusing it,” Kumar said.
New App to Streamline Aadhaar Authentication
Currently, the Aadhaar Act prohibits the collection, use, or storage of an Aadhaar number or biometric information for offline verification. Yet, several entities continue to maintain photocopies of Aadhaar cards. Kumar added that legislation is being drafted to discourage offline verification through physical copies, and the proposal will be reviewed by the Aadhaar authority on December 1.
“Aadhaar should never be used as a document. It should only be authenticated with the Aadhaar number or verified using QR code. Otherwise, it can be a fake document,” he added.
The UIDAI also held a joint meeting with stakeholders including banks, hotels, fintech firms, and others to update them about a new app that will replace the mAadhaar app. The app will streamline Aadhaar authentication in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, expected to be fully operational in 18 months.
Features of the Aadhaar App
The new app will allow users to update address proofs, add family members who do not own mobile phones, and update mobile numbers using a face authentication feature. It will function similarly to Aadhaar verification via the Digiyatra app, enabling entities to authenticate individuals for purposes such as event entry, cinema halls, hotel check-ins, age-restricted purchases, student verifications, and access to residential societies.
An official explained, “Aadhaar holder will show the QR code in the scanner of OVSE. The system will then prompt for face verification. This will also work as proof of the presence of an Aadhaar number holder. We will open an application for OVSE very soon. We will verify details of OVSE, and once approval is done, then OVSE will have to initiate technical integration to access a QR code for updating data from the Aadhaar database.”