Modi government introduces a revolutionary new Aadhaar app featuring face ID and QR code functionalities.

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday introduced the long-awaited Aadhaar app to enhance accessibility and security for Aadhaar. The new application, which the union minister revealed on X, merges face ID verification and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide the digital Aadhaar service to Indian citizens via a mobile application.

This application, developed in partnership with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), offers instant verification through QR codes and real-time facial recognition for authentication. This will remove the necessity for individuals to hold tangible photocopies or cards. Aadhaar verification becomes as easy as executing a UPI transaction, Vaishnaw stated in a post on X.

With the launch of the Aadhaar app, individuals will no longer have to carry a physical Aadhaar card or provide photocopies when traveling, checking into hotels, or shopping. The app is expected to move beyond the Beta testing stage and be widely adopted across the country soon. Rather than presenting physical copies of their Aadhaar, users can verify their identity through a QR code scan with the new app.

The updated Aadhaar app will enable users to share only essential information, granting them total control over their personal data. Alongside Face ID authentication, the new app will include a QR code verification option, enhancing the speed and efficiency of Aadhaar verification.

Similar to how UPI payment QR codes are prevalent at nearly all payment locations in India, Aadhaar verification QR codes will soon be accessible at ‘authentication points.’ Individuals can simply scan the QR code with the new Aadhaar app, and their facial verification occurs immediately. The ID is safely transmitted straight from a person’s phone, rather than from a copy.