VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, on Tuesday dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation, marking a major step forward in India’s journey towards secure, citizen-centric digital governance. Developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the next-generation mobile application has been designed with a strong focus on privacy, consent and convenience, redefining how Aadhaar number holders access, share and verify their identity.
The new Aadhaar App enables residents to carry their Aadhaar digitally, while giving them complete control over how and when their personal information is shared. Built on the principles of selective data sharing and explicit user consent, the app allows users to show, share and verify their identity securely without the need to disclose unnecessary personal details.
After unveiling the application, Shri Prasada congratulated UIDAI for its sustained efforts in strengthening India’s digital public infrastructure. He described Aadhaar as a flagship achievement of digital governance, noting that it has transformed service delivery across sectors by making processes faster, simpler and more transparent. The Minister said the new app would further accelerate seamless service delivery at scale, while reinforcing trust between citizens and digital systems.
“At India’s scale, a digital identity system is not just a technological innovation—it is a matter of public trust, good governance and citizen empowerment,” Shri Prasada said. He emphasised that the new Aadhaar App embodies these values by placing control, consent and ease of use firmly in the hands of residents.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri S. Krishan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighted that the app strongly promotes data minimisation and enhanced security. He said it enables Aadhaar number holders to share only limited and relevant information, thereby reducing the risk of misuse and strengthening privacy safeguards.
Designed to cater to users across age groups and digital literacy levels, the Aadhaar App supports a wide range of real-life, everyday use cases. These include hotel check-ins through scanning of Offline Verification Seeking Entity (OVSE) QR codes, optional face verification, age verification for cinema ticket bookings, verification of visitors and attendants in hospitals, and authentication of gig workers and service partners, among several others.
The app is equipped with a host of advanced features aimed at improving usability and security. These include face verification for proof of presence, one-click biometric lock and unlock, access to authentication history, and a QR-based contact card that allows users to easily share verified contact details.
In a significant convenience boost, the app allows users to manage up to five Aadhaar profiles on a single device, promoting the concept of “One Family – One App.” Residents can also update their address and now even change their registered mobile number directly through the app, with additional update services expected to be rolled out in the future.
Shri Neelkanth Mishra, Chairman, UIDAI, said the transition from paper-based identity to a paperless and digital ecosystem is a major milestone, reiterating that UIDAI will continue to place people at the centre of innovation and service delivery.
Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI, underlined that selective credential sharing is one of the app’s most important features. He explained that residents can share only specific identity attributes required for a particular service through customised QR codes generated by requesting entities. This ensures that Aadhaar numbers are not stored by verifiers and that only digitally signed, verifiable credentials are exchanged.
Such an approach, he said, is fully aligned with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, reinforcing India’s commitment to privacy-by-design and responsible data use.
With the launch of the new Aadhaar App, India once again reaffirms a core principle of its digital public infrastructure—that technology must be inclusive, resident-centric and built on trust, empowering citizens while safeguarding their personal data.
