Alongside the growing adoption of the Aadhaar App, UIDAI has onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) since the initiative was launched in January. The Ministry of Electronics and IT said that this marks a significant step towards expanding the use of Aadhaar-based offline verification across sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, education, events and the gig economy.
The objective of this expansion is to facilitate secure, consent-based and paperless verification while also providing residents with greater control over the personal information they share. The UIDAI stated that this framework prioritizes privacy and data minimization in alignment with the ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Act’ (DPDP Act).
The Aadhaar App has recorded nearly 7.5 crore downloads, with residents increasingly using it to access Aadhaar-related services. More than 86 lakh mobile number updates, 22.16 lakh address updates and 40.25 lakh email updates have been completed through the app, allowing users to update their details without visiting Aadhaar centres.
The app has also recorded 4.6 crore biometric lock/unlock transactions and 3.61 lakh Aadhaar lock/unlock transactions, reflecting increased use of its security features. UIDAI said these features allow Aadhaar number holders to exercise greater control over access to their personal information while providing an additional layer of privacy and security.
The authority said that the expansion of offline verification partners and the growing use of the Aadhaar app will make it easier for citizens and institutions to access digital identity services. These initiatives are part of the government’s Digital India program and its efforts to make public services more accessible through technology.
(PIB)
