Aadhaar has become the most used identity document in India.
Whether you need a loan, passport, PAN card, or simply want to verify your identity, Aadhaar is required almost everywhere.
Even schoolchildren now have their Aadhaar cards.
But with this widespread use, complaints of misuse have also increased.
Since the Aadhaar card contains personal details like name, address, and date of birth, the UIDAI is now planning a new, safer version of the Aadhaar card.
The biggest change is that the new Aadhaar card will not display the person’s address or date of birth.
It will only show a photo and a QR code.
What Will the New Aadhaar Look Like?
According to UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, the new Aadhaar card will not have the 12-digit Aadhaar number printed on it.
This step is being taken to prevent offline misuse of Aadhaar information.
The UIDAI aims to reduce the practice of hotels, event organizers, and other institutions taking photocopies of Aadhaar cards.
When Aadhaar verification is done online using a QR code, personal information stays more secure.
Kumar said the goal is to create a card that only displays the most necessary information.
If full details continue to be printed, people will keep sharing photocopies everywhere, increasing the risk of fraud.
Why These Changes Are Important
Under the Aadhaar Act, no one is allowed to store or collect Aadhaar numbers or biometric data during offline verification.
However, in many places such as hotels, photocopies of Aadhaar cards are still taken and kept on record.
This practice increases the chances of identity theft.
To stop this, the UIDAI is considering rules that discourage offline verification using physical Aadhaar copies.
A proposal on this will be reviewed on December 1.
The UIDAI also clarified that Aadhaar should not be treated as a regular document.
Instead, it should be authenticated digitally using a QR code or Aadhaar number.
New Aadhaar App for Easy Verification
UIDAI has launched a new Aadhaar app.
Through this app, you can:
Update your address
Add family members who don’t have a mobile number
Update your mobile number using face authentication
In the future, this app may be used for:
Hotel check-ins
Cinema hall entries
Student verification
Entry into gated communities
Event registrations
This will reduce the need for physical Aadhaar cards and make verification faster and safer.
What Does Aadhaar Really Prove?
Many people still misunderstand the purpose of Aadhaar.
It is only an identity proof, not proof of citizenship or date of birth.
Recently, the Election Commission told the Supreme Court that Aadhaar alone cannot be used to add someone’s name to the voter list.
Aadhaar is also not considered proof of address.
For address verification, documents like passports, electricity bills, bank statements, or rental agreements are still required.
