The Government of India on 28 January 2026 dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation, marking a significant step forward in resident-centric digital identity verification. The app was dedicated by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada, underscoring the government’s continued focus on ease of living, privacy protection and trusted digital governance.
Developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India, the new Aadhaar App is a next-generation mobile application that enables Aadhaar Number Holders to securely carry, show, share and verify their Aadhaar using a privacy-first and consent-driven framework. The app reimagines identity verification by placing control, consent and convenience directly in the hands of residents.
Speaking after unveiling the app, Jitin Prasada congratulated UIDAI for its work and described Aadhaar as a flagship of India’s digital governance architecture. He said UIDAI has consistently worked to make service delivery seamless and hassle free, and the new app will further accelerate secure and efficient identity verification across sectors. He emphasised that at India’s scale, digital identity is not merely a technological achievement but a foundation of public trust, empowerment and good governance.
Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, S Krishan said the app promotes data minimisation, enhances security and enables selective sharing of information by Aadhaar number holders. He noted that the design aligns with modern data protection principles and strengthens resident confidence in digital public infrastructure.
The Aadhaar App supports a wide range of real-life use cases, including hotel check-ins through offline verification QR code scanning, optional face verification, age verification for cinema ticket bookings, hospital admissions for visitors and attendants, and verification of gig workers and service partners. These features expand the practical usage of Aadhaar while reducing paperwork and manual processes.
The app includes advanced functionalities such as face verification for proof of presence, biometric lock and unlock in a single click, access to authentication history, and a QR-based contact card for easy sharing of contact details. It also allows management of up to five Aadhaar profiles on a single device, enabling the concept of One Family One App. In addition to address updates, residents can now update their registered mobile number through the app, with more update services planned.
Chairman, UIDAI, Neelkanth Mishra said the transition from paper-based identity to paperless and digital verification is a major step forward, reaffirming that UIDAI will continue to place people at the centre of innovation and service delivery.
CEO, UIDAI, Bhuvnesh Kumar highlighted selective credential sharing as a core feature of the app. He explained that residents can share only specific identity fields required for a particular service through customised QR codes generated by requesting entities. Aadhaar numbers are not stored by verifiers, and only digitally signed, verifiable credentials are shared, ensuring data minimisation in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
With the launch of the new Aadhaar App, India reinforces a central principle of its digital public infrastructure that technology must remain inclusive, resident-centric and built on trust, while enabling secure and convenient access to services at scale.
