Aadhaar virtual ID verification mechanism becomes operational

Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO, UIDAI, said, “This is yet another innovative and useful facility through which people can now obtain their own Aadhaar update history from the UIDAI’s website and can use it in support of their assertion of address, etc. We have launched its Beta version.” 

The new Aadhaar virtual ID system will allow users to provide a virtually generated code instead of the actual 12-digit identifier in an effort to safeguard privacy. 

Banks will have time till 31 August to deploy the tool for user verification in their systems, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said in its announcement. Aadhaar holders can generate the virtual ID from the official website and then produce it for authentication purposes; the virtual code can be generated multiple times.

According to UIDAI, the Aadhaar Update history shows date-wise details of updates made in address, and other fields on the Aadhaar since its generation. It could be any update relating to name, date of birth, gender or address, or addition/deletion of mobile or email. 

Pandey said, “Providing Aadhaar update history will bring in more trust and further empower people because they can now use their update history to the authorities while applying for jobs, school admissions, various services or benefits, etc., because in most such cases they are usually asked to provide their address for the last two or three years “.