Aadhaar New Rules: Do You Know What Has Changed? How Does Face Authentication Work?

Aadhaar New Rules: Do You Know What Has Changed? How Does Face Authentication Work?

The central government has recently notified new Aadhaar rules that are set to significantly transform India’s digital identity ecosystem. Two key changes stand out—formal approval for face authentication and much stricter privacy safeguards. With these updates, Aadhaar usage is being redefined not only for government services but also for private entities, within a clear legal framework.

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Why Is Face Authentication Important?

Until now, Aadhaar verification relied on fingerprints, iris scans, or OTP (One-Time Password). Under the new rules, face authentication has been officially recognized as an additional method of verification.

This is particularly useful in situations where fingerprints do not match properly or iris scans are difficult to capture. UIDAI considers face authentication as “Proof of Presence”, meaning it confirms that the Aadhaar holder is physically present at the place of verification.

This approach is similar to DigiYatra-style identity checks and has the potential to expand into everyday use cases such as event entry, hotel check-ins, and delivery confirmations.

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Strong Focus on Privacy Protection

Privacy has been given top priority under the new Aadhaar rules. These changes align closely with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

Key privacy safeguards include:

• The purpose of Aadhaar usage must be clearly stated

• Explicit consent must be taken from the user

• Only minimum required data should be collected

For example, if a service needs only age verification or a photograph, there is no requirement to share full Aadhaar details. Limited, purpose-specific information will be sufficient.

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Offline Aadhaar Verification for Private Use

Earlier, some private entities collected Aadhaar details using OTP-based online access to UIDAI portals. UIDAI has now clarified that this practice is not legal.

The new rules remove this ambiguity by promoting offline Aadhaar verification. Aadhaar holders can share digitally signed Aadhaar details without any connection to UIDAI’s central database.

This can be done through:

• QR codes

• The new Aadhaar mobile app, which stores Aadhaar details securely on the user’s device

The app allows users to share only selected information, ensuring complete control over personal data and eliminating privacy risks.

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What This Means for Users

With innovations like face authentication and offline verification, Aadhaar services are becoming more convenient, secure, and privacy-friendly. Users can now access services easily while retaining full control over how and what personal information is shared.

In short, the new Aadhaar rules aim to balance ease of use with strong data protection, marking a major step forward in India’s digital identity framework.