The political climate in Bihar is heated due to elections and voter list verification. The opposition continually questions the Election Commission about why Aadhaar, the nation's most comprehensive ID system, isn't recognized for voter identification. Amidst this, in an exclusive interview with AajTak, Bhuwaneswar Kumar, CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), clarified why Aadhaar is never any individual's first identity.
Addressing concerns about fake Aadhaar cards, the UIDAI head clarified that an Aadhaar is generated only when an individual possesses a valid ID document and address proof. Your identity is confirmed through another existing document—Aadhaar simply facilitates a digital representation.
Bhuwaneswar Kumar's statement brings clarity to misconceptions regarding Aadhaar's role, asserting that it complements an individual's identification, rather than being a primary or standalone document.
A New Aadhaar App Launching Soon
The UIDAI is preparing to launch a new Aadhaar app, which has completed testing and is in its final phases. This app will enable Aadhaar holders to digitally share their identity without a physical copy, upon consent.
The app will include features like Masked Aadhaar (hidden numbers), allowing users to share complete or partial information securely.
Strict Action Against Fake Aadhaar Cards
Bhuwaneswar Kumar revealed that UIDAI has adopted effective technologies to prevent fake Aadhaar cards. By using the Aadhaar QR Scanner app developed by UIDAI, the QR code present on new Aadhaar cards can be scanned for easy verification.
He explained that if someone presents a fake Aadhaar card, scanning the QR code will immediately reveal its authenticity. Fake cards created using Photoshop or templates are not valid as UIDAI only recognizes Aadhaar cards created with verified ID and address proof.
Bhuwaneswar Kumar's comments come at a time when Aadhaar's validity and use are questioned politically, and UIDAI aims to clear the misconceptions by highlighting Aadhaar's digital and verifiable system.
