Aadhaar Lock Feature Blocks OTP and e-KYC by allowing users to temporarily lock their 12-digit Aadhaar number and restrict authentication until they choose to unlock it.
The feature is designed to give Aadhaar holders greater control over the use of their identity details.
When Aadhaar is locked, authentication using the Aadhaar number is restricted across biometric, demographic and OTP-based methods.
UIDAI already provides an official Aadhaar lock and unlock facility for this purpose.
Aadhaar Lock Feature Blocks OTP and e-KYC
The new Aadhaar App feature is particularly useful for people who do not frequently need Aadhaar-based authentication.
Locking the Aadhaar number can add an extra layer of protection against attempts to misuse the identity number for authentication.
The facility is different from biometric locking.
Biometric lock specifically restricts authentication using fingerprints and iris data, while Aadhaar locking restricts authentication using the Aadhaar number itself.
Virtual ID Needed Before Aadhaar Lock
Users need a 16-digit Virtual ID, or VID, before locking their Aadhaar.
UIDAI describes VID as a temporary 16-digit number that can be used instead of the Aadhaar number for authentication and related services.
After the Aadhaar number is locked, users can use the latest VID for services where VID-based authentication is supported.
The VID can be generated through UIDAI’s Aadhaar services.
How to Lock Aadhaar Number
To use the feature, users need to access the Aadhaar App and complete the required authentication.
They can then select the Aadhaar lock option and follow the on-screen instructions to activate the security feature.
Once the Aadhaar number is locked, authentication through the UID is disabled until the user unlocks it.
This means users should keep their latest VID available if they expect to need Aadhaar-based services while the number is locked.
:Aadhaar App Adds More Security Controls
The Aadhaar App provides several services designed to help residents manage their identity information digitally.
These include mobile-number and address updates, biometric lock and unlock, e-Aadhaar downloads and other Aadhaar-related services.
The Aadhaar Lock Feature Blocks OTP and e-KYC authentication while the Aadhaar number remains locked, giving users an additional way to control when their Aadhaar can be used for authentication.
Users can unlock the number when they need to access services requiring Aadhaar authentication.
