The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched an updated Aadhaar app for smartphones that enables facial recognition to verify users’ identities. This enhanced application is designed to facilitate digital verification through a QR code and the smartphone camera, eliminating the need for users to provide photocopies of their Aadhaar cards. Although this innovation has the potential to expedite identity verification, concerns regarding the security of biometric data remain a prevalent issue.
UIDAI Demonstrates New Aadhaar App
The revamped Aadhaar app was introduced at Aadhaar Samvaad, a stakeholder meeting held in Delhi on Tuesday. During the event, the UIDAI provided a demonstration of the app, which incorporates the Aadhaar Face Authentication system that scans users’ faces for identity confirmation.
3/ With the new Aadhaar app, users no longer need to get their Aadhaar scanned or photocopied.
❌ No more scanned & printed copies pic.twitter.com/kAaP3vp3cQ— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 8, 2025
The UIDAI explained that the updated app allows Aadhaar cardholders to authenticate without the necessity of carrying a physical card or sharing photocopies with service providers. Once users install the app on their smartphones, they can securely verify their identity without disclosing their details to the service provider.
A promotional video illustrating the app’s functionality provides insight into the authentication process. When users encounter a QR code or a request for identity verification, the Aadhaar app instructs them to input their security PIN to unlock its features and initiate the verification.
Users will view a masked, digital representation of their Aadhaar card within the app. This enables them to scan a QR code that reveals pertinent information, such as their name, date of birth, and masked mobile number, as requested by the service provider, which could range from a hotel check-in desk to a retail outlet.
If users opt to proceed with the verification, the app will guide them to position their face within a circular graphic on the screen. A blinking action is required to complete the authentication, and a notification will confirm the user’s identity has been successfully verified.
While the redesigned Aadhaar app aims to simplify the verification process and reduce reliance on physical documents, experts have expressed concerns about the security of users’ biometric data stored on centralized servers. Unlike passwords or security codes, biometric identifiers such as facial scans, fingerprints, and iris patterns are permanent and cannot be changed, which raises the stakes in the event of data breaches that could lead to identity theft and misuse.
The UIDAI asserts that the new Aadhaar app is designed to safeguard against forgery and unauthorized data editing, emphasizing that information is only shared with user consent. Currently, the app has been released to a limited group of testers, with plans for a broader rollout following their feedback and that of ecosystem partners.
