Aadhaar

Aadhaar is a twelve-digit unique identity number that can be obtained voluntarily by all residents of India based on their place of residence, biometrics and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2016 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, following the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Applicants to Aadhaar receive an Aadhaar UID Card used to identify a resident of India. However, following a series of Supreme Court rulings and provision of the Aadhar Act, it is not considered proof of Indian citizenship, domicile, address, date of birth, and age. It cannot be used as an identification document for international travel. As of May 2023, more than 99.9% of India's adult population had been issued an Aadhaar, making it the world's largest biometric ID system. Aarhaar is also the basis for MOSIP, an open source identity system used by nation states, especially in the African region. A new Aadhaar app, which replaced the former mAadhar app, was launched on 28 January 2026. This app allows users to digitally show, share, and verify their identity selectively, rather than tendering copies of their physical ID or quoting the unique number itself. UIDAI officials claim that Aadhar have the discretion to both share what they desire and when. The requesting entity can tailor the QR codes to its requirements. The Aadhaar number is not stored by the verifiers. Credentials are only exchanged in a digitally-signed format. That detail matters, particularly under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.