Paperless Aadhaar: There is a new update for Aadhaar Card holders. The Aadhaar card is a crucial ID issued by the Government of India, created by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It features a unique 12-digit number assigned to each individual. The card includes details like a person’s name, address, date of birth, gender, and photo. It serves as valid proof of identity and address across the country.
Having an Aadhaar is essential for opening a bank account, getting a SIM card, accessing government benefits, and many other services. It simplifies the identification process, making it quick and secure. Recently, the trend of using paperless Aadhaar has surged, but a lot of people are still in the dark about it. This article dives into the significance of paperless Aadhaar in detail.
What exactly is paperless Aadhaar?
Paperless Aadhaar, or Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC, is a secure, digitally signed document provided by UIDAI. It enables Aadhaar holders to confirm their identity without disclosing their Aadhaar number or biometric data (like fingerprints or iris scans). This method is straightforward and safe for both users and service providers.
This document is secure and shareable, allowing any Aadhaar number holder to use it for offline identity verification. To access this feature, the Aadhaar holder must visit the UIDAI website and create a digitally signed offline XML file. This file includes the following details:
– Name
– Address
– Photo
– Gender
– Date of Birth
– Hash of the registered mobile number
– Hash of registered email
– Reference ID (which consists of the last 4 digits of the Aadhaar number and a timestamp)
This service enables providers or Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) to verify identities without keeping the Aadhaar number on file.
How to download paperless Aadhaar?
First of all go to the official website of UIDAI (uidai.gov.in).
Go to the “Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC” section.
Enter your Aadhaar number or VID and enter the security code given on the screen.
Click on “Send OTP”.
An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. This OTP will also be available on the mAadhaar app.
Enter the received OTP.
Create a share code (this will be the password for the ZIP file).
Click on “Download” button.
After this, a ZIP file containing the digitally signed XML file will be downloaded to your device.
The offline Aadhaar XML file can also be downloaded from the mAadhaar app.
How to use paperless Aadhaar?
Share the downloaded XML file with the service provider.
Also provide the share code created while downloading.
The service provider can verify your identity offline without seeing your Aadhaar number or biometrics.
This feature is very useful in banking, SIM card issuance and other KYC processes.
Sweta Mitra
Working in the media for last 7 years. The journey started in the year 2018. For the past few years, my working experience has been in Bengali media. Currently working at Timesbull.com. Here I write like Business, National, and Utility News. My favorite hobbies are listening to music, traveling, food,...
