India's Aadhaar authority is moving to stop the widespread practice of photocopying Aadhaar cards, introducing new rules that will soon make digital verification mandatory for many organizations. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) aims to enhance privacy and security for over 1.4 billion cardholders by shifting to a paperless, digital identity verification system. This major overhaul, expected to be largely operational by November 2025, will require entities like hotels and event organizers to register and use new technology for Aadhaar checks.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The move seeks to curb misuse of personal data and streamline verification processes across the country.^{[1][6][2][7][4]} ### New Rules Target Paper-Based Verification The UIDAI has approved a new framework that will prohibit many entities from collecting and storing physical photocopies of Aadhaar cards. This practice already goes against the existing Aadhaar Act, which aims to protect individual data. The upcoming rule will mandate registration for any organization that wants to perform offline Aadhaar verification. This includes common places like hotels, event organizers, and other service providers. The goal is to discourage paper-based Aadhaar verification methods entirely.^[1][2][7][4] Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of UIDAI, stated that the new rule has been approved and will be notified soon. He emphasized that the objective is to move away from paper-based checks, which can lead to data leaks and fraud. Unlicensed private entities, such as hotels or film halls, are currently not allowed to collect or keep copies of Aadhaar cards. Doing so is an offense under the Aadhaar Act 2016. The new regulations will further reinforce this by providing clear digital alternatives.^{[8][9][10][1][2][4]} ### Digital Verification to Become Standard Once registered, organizations will gain access to advanced technology tools for secure and paperless verification. The primary methods will involve scanning a QR code or using a new Aadhaar mobile application that is currently under development. This shift means users will no longer need to hand over physical photocopies, which often expose sensitive personal information. Instead, a quick digital scan will confirm identity, protecting individuals from potential identity theft.^{[1][6][2][7][4]} The offline verification system allows individuals to prove their identity without sharing their full Aadhaar number or other sensitive details. Users can present a digitally signed file or a secure QR code. This data contains only the minimal demographic information needed for verification and is designed to be tamper-proof. No biometrics or direct database lookups are involved in this offline method, giving users more control over their data.^{[6][11][12][13][14]} ### Upcoming Aadhaar App and QR Code Power UIDAI is currently beta-testing a new mobile application that will replace the existing mAadhaar app. This updated app will introduce app-to-app Aadhaar verification, meaning transactions can be authenticated without needing to connect to the central Aadhaar database for every single check. This feature will be especially useful in high-traffic areas like airports and retail outlets that sell age-restricted products, making verification faster and more efficient.^[1][2][7] The new Aadhaar app will also allow users to update key personal details like their address, phone number, name, and date of birth directly from home. This will significantly reduce the need for physical visits to enrollment centers. Only biometric updates, such as fingerprint and iris scans, will still require an in-person visit. This digital convenience is a major step towards UIDAI's vision of a "faceless, paperless, and cashless" identity management system.^{[3][15][16][5][17]} The secure QR code, already present on e-Aadhaar and Aadhaar PVC cards, plays a crucial role in this digital transformation. This code is digitally signed by UIDAI and contains demographic information, including a photograph of the Aadhaar holder. Specialized QR code scanner applications can read and validate this information against UIDAI digital signatures in real-time, making it tamper-proof and helping detect fraud.^[12][13][18] ### Enhanced Privacy and Security for All This move towards digital-first verification offers several significant benefits. Foremost among them is enhanced privacy for Aadhaar holders. By eliminating photocopies, the risk of personal data falling into the wrong hands or being misused is greatly reduced. The new system aligns with India's upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Act, ensuring that identity verification processes meet modern data security standards.^[1][6][2][4] "The ease of verification will enhance offline verification without the use of paper while maintaining privacy of users or any risk of their Aadhaar data getting leaked for misuse," UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said.^[1][2][4] This shift also addresses operational challenges caused by downtime in intermediary servers that connect entities to the central Aadhaar database. Registered entities will receive access to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to integrate the new offline Aadhaar verification into their existing systems, making the process smoother and more reliable.^[1][2][4] Previously, UIDAI had also promoted the use of "masked Aadhaar," which only displays the last four digits of the 12-digit number, as a way to protect privacy when sharing the document. Masked Aadhaar is legally valid and can be downloaded from the UIDAI website or mAadhaar app. This, along with the Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC, has paved the way for the current broader digital initiative, offering secure alternatives to full Aadhaar copies.^{[8][9][10][19][20][21][14][22][23]} The full implementation of these new rules and systems is expected to be largely complete by November 2025. This initiative represents a significant step forward for India's digital infrastructure, making Aadhaar a more secure, private, and user-friendly identity tool for its vast population. The changes will make identity checks faster for citizens and cut down on paperwork and the risk of forged documents for businesses and government agencies.^{[3][15][16][5][17]}

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