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The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is considering issuing Aadhaar cards with the cardholder's photograph and a QR code to prevent misuse of personal information and eliminate offline verification. Speaking at an OPW online summit on a new app for Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the authority is considering introducing a new rule in December to eliminate offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organizers, and other organizations, and to enhance the age verification process using Aadhaar while maintaining individual privacy. Kumar said they are considering why any additional details are needed on the card. It should only contain a photograph and a QR code. If we print more information, people will believe that, and those who know how to misuse it will continue to do so.

Offline Verification Process to End
According to the Aadhaar Act, no individual's Aadhaar number or biometric information can be collected, used, or stored for offline verification. Nevertheless, many organizations collect and store photocopies of Aadhaar cards. Kumar said that a law is underway to eliminate offline verification using copies of Aadhaar cards, which the Aadhaar Authority will consider on December 1. Kumar said that Aadhaar should never be used as a document. It should only be authenticated with the Aadhaar number or verified using a QR code. Otherwise, it could be considered a fake document.

Authentication Services to be Improved
UIDAI held a joint meeting with several beneficiaries, including banks, hotels, fintech companies, etc., to inform them about a new app under development, which is expected to launch soon. The new app is expected to further improve Aadhaar authentication services in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and will be fully operational within 18 months. Through this app, users will be able to update their address proofs on the new app and add family members who do not have mobile phones. A UIDAI official stated that the new app will also allow the mobile numbers of Aadhaar holders in a family to be updated using facial recognition.

How will the app work?

Kumar stated that this new app will replace the mAadhaar app and simplify the authentication process for various entities that need to verify individuals for various purposes. This new app will function similarly to Aadhaar verification performed through the DigiYatra app. He stated that the authentication service can have various uses, and entities can provide feedback to the UIDAI on new uses for Aadhaar authentication services. Another UIDAI official stated that this new app will help verify individuals in a variety of situations, including entry into events, cinema halls, purchase of certain products with a minimum age limit of 18 years, as well as verification of students, check-in at hotels, entry into residential societies, etc.

Applications for OVSEs will be open.
The official authority has published details online for updating the systems of Offline Verification Requiring Entities (OVSEs). They stated that OVSEs can use this new system to verify Aadhaar number holders both online and as physical proof of presence. The official stated that the Aadhaar holder will show the QR code to the OVSE's scanner. The system will then prompt for facial verification. This will also serve as proof of presence for the Aadhaar number holder. We will soon open an application for OVSEs. We will verify the OVSE's details, and once approved, OVSEs will need to begin technical integration to access the QR code to update data from the Aadhaar database.

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