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UIDAI’s new Aadhaar app enables secure age verification without data oversharing, supporting DPDP Act compliance. Designed for digital and offline services, the app discourages paper Aadhaar copies while enhancing privacy, convenience, and child safety across platforms.
Aadhaar app launch with privacy features
New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new Aadhaar mobile application designed to enable secure age verification without revealing unnecessary personal data. This initiative aligns with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and aims to strengthen privacy-first digital identity usage across India.
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The announcement was made during the app’s launch on January 28, 2026, by S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He explained that the government has amended the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules, also known as the Swik Rules, to allow private entities to use Aadhaar authentication securely for service delivery.
One of the most important features of the new app is its ability to verify age without oversharing personal information. Age verification, or “age gating,” has become a major requirement under the DPDP Act, especially for digital platforms such as social media, online gaming services, and e-commerce websites.
With the Aadhaar app, platforms can confirm whether a user meets age requirements without accessing full Aadhaar details like date of birth or address. This ensures compliance with data-minimisation principles and significantly reduces the risk of misuse of personal information.
The app allows entities such as hotels, cinema halls, event organisers, airports, and online companies to digitally verify customers. This eliminates the need for paper photocopies of Aadhaar, which are often misused or stored illegally despite restrictions under the Aadhaar Act.
Representational Image (Image Source: Internet)
By enabling instant digital authentication, the app improves convenience while strengthening security. It also helps protect children by restricting access to age-inappropriate content, products, or services on digital platforms.
According to UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, the app offers more than just verification. Users can now update their mobile numbers directly through the app, without visiting an Aadhaar centre. Address update services, already available online, have also been integrated into the app for easier access.
The app includes a digital contact card feature, allowing users to share contact details electronically instead of using traditional paper visiting cards.
A notable feature is the ability to add up to five Aadhaar profiles on a single app. This is especially useful for families, as parents can manage Aadhaar verification for children or elderly members who may not have separate mobile numbers. This feature enables smooth authentication at public venues without carrying physical documents.
Overall, the new Aadhaar app represents a major step toward secure, paperless, and privacy-centric digital identity management in India.
