Key facts you must know about E-Aadhaar, the digitized version of Aadhaar Card

Key facts you must know about E-Aadhaar, the digitized version of Aadhaar Card

Digitization has absorbed almost every element of the Indian economy. While a number of initiatives taken towards this progress, numerous processes are being put into effect to centralised the database of the Indian population and the step taken in this direction is known as Aadhar Number, a 12-digit alphanumeric identity issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India, to all Indian citizens. An Aadhar card contains this 12-digit number along with other information like Name, Address and more.

Aadhar card is used for availing many services. But what if your card is lost?

In that case, how will you be able to avail any further service?

To combat the situation, you can download your Aadhar card, also known as e Aadhar Card.

What is e-Aadhaar?

An online facility provided by the UIDAI enables an Aadhaar holder to download a digital copy of his or her Aadhaar card. "E-Aadhaar is as valid as Aadhaar letter… It is a digitally-signed legally valid document as per the Aadhaar Act 2016," said the UIDAI. The UIDAI offers many services online through its portal. One of these facilities enables an Aadhaar holder to download a digital copy of his or her Aadhaar card.

How can you download e-Aadhar?

 This tool can be accessed through the 'Download Aadhaar' link on the UIDAI portal's homepage. It enables a user to download a digital copy of his or her Aadhaar card, the 'e-Aadhaar', by entering any of the Aadhaar number (UID), Aadhaar Virtual ID (VID) and Aadhaar enrolment ID (EID), according to the UIDAI website.

Requirements

This facility requires the user to enter any of the three numbers – UID, EID or VID – along with details such as full name and PIN code.

Process

STEP 1

After entering the required details, the user may proceed by clicking on the 'Request OTP' button.

It works on an OTP (one-time passcode-based method) on a note to verify the identity of the user by sending an SMS to the user's Aadhaar registered mobile number. "Your personal details will help us for authentication," reads a message by the UIDAI portal.

STEP 2

The user is required to submit the OTP received via SMS.

STEP 3

The user may click 'Download Aadhaar' after entering the six-digit OTP in the given field.

STEP 4

The UIDAI portal leads the user to his or her Aadhaar card. This digital Aadhaar can be saved on a computer or emailed.

ANOTHER METHOD TO DOWNLOAD E-AADHAR CARD

Other than SMS-based OTP, the 'Download Aadhaar' tool also works with TOTP or time-based OTP. A TOTP is generated by an algorithm through mobile app mAadhaar and is valid only for 30 seconds. It is a way to circumvent the traditional SMS based OTP.

Points to remember

• You can download e-Aadhaar card as many a times you want.
• You can't download Aadhaar card without OTP.
• An OTP is sent on your registered mobile number by the UIDAI for security purposes.
• You can't download Aadhaar card if your number is not registered with the UIDAI.

Why is your e-Aadhaar file Password Protected? (Please add link for the next article)