UIDAI’s New Rule: QR Code Verification Mandatory, Aadhaar Photocopies Now Illegal

Aadhaar usage has grown significantly in the country over the past few years, and it has become the most trusted form of identification for banking, SIM cards, hotel check-ins, and government schemes. As its use increases, so too do the risks associated with it. UIDAI is continuously taking steps to address this threat. Now, UIDAI has introduced a significant change that will eliminate the need for Aadhaar photocopies, and identity verification will be conducted solely through QR-based verification. This step will strengthen the security of your identity.

UIDAI Strict Ban on Photocopies

UIDAI has made it clear that in the future, no hotel, club, event organizer, or private organization will be able to accept Aadhaar photocopies. UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar has stated that this is not only unsafe but also considered a violation of the Aadhaar Act. Photocopies provided at hotels or events could put your data at risk if they fell into the wrong hands. Under the new rule, any company wishing to perform Aadhaar verification will now be required to register under UIDAI’s new framework. This will reduce the risk of identity theft and speed up the verification process.

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How will offline verification work

According to UIDAI, after eliminating photocopies, the entire process will become QR-based. The QR code in the new Aadhaar card and e-Aadhaar contains a digital signature along with your photo and basic details.

Hotels and clubs will only be able to view information such as your name, age, and photo by scanning the QR code. Your address or other sensitive information will not be visible. UIDAI is focused on ensuring that organizations only access essential data and that no other information is stored.

New Framework for Security

This rule is necessary because photocopies or scanned copies could pose a risk in the old model. UIDAI will also provide API-based authentication and verification options within its new Aadhaar app. In the future, UIDAI is also considering a new Aadhaar card model that features only the photo and QR code on the front, and removes all other information from the back. This would eliminate the need for a physical copy for Aadhaar authentication.

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