Paperless Aadhaar: What is paperless Aadhaar and how different is it from a physical card?

This article explains paperless Aadhaar, a secure digital method of identity verification. This encrypted XML file, issued by the UIDAI, authenticates your identity without sharing your actual Aadhaar number.

In this era of Digital India, Aadhaar has become the most powerful means of our identification. It is issued by UIDAI. The unique 12-digit number written on it is not only used to open a bank account or obtain a SIM card, but is also essential for availing benefits of various government schemes. However, many people remain concerned about the security of their personal information and Aadhaar number. The solution to this concern is paperless Aadhaar (Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC). Therefore, it is important to know about paperless Aadhaar. Today's article is on this topic. Today, through this article, we will tell you what paperless Aadhaar is. Let's read further...

What is paperless Aadhaar?

A paperless Aadhaar is a digitally signed document. It allows you to verify your identity without providing your actual Aadhaar number or biometrics to any agency or service provider. It is primarily in the form of an XML file that is completely secure and encrypted.

It includes your basic information like name, address, photo, gender and date of birth, but for security reasons, your mobile number and email address are not visible directly but are hidden in the form of 'Hash' code.

How to download?

  • First of all, log in to the official website of UIDAI (uidai.gov.in).
  • Now click on the option of 'Aadhaar Paperless Offline e-KYC' under the 'My Aadhaar' tab.
  • After this, enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID (VID) and fill the captcha code displayed on the screen.
  • Click on Send OTP. An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number, enter it.
  • Here, you'll need to create a 4-digit share code of your choice. This will be your file's password, which you'll need to remember.
  • Finally, click the Download button. A ZIP file will be safely downloaded to your phone or computer.

How to use it?

Whenever you need to get your KYC done somewhere, instead of giving your physical copy, you can give this downloaded XML file and your created 'Share Code' to the concerned officer or bank.

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