The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) since the January rollout, expanding Aadhaar-based offline verification across sectors including hospitality, healthcare, education, events and the gig economy.
The expansion is aimed at enabling secure, consent-based and paperless verification while giving residents greater control over the information they share. UIDAI said the framework prioritises privacy and data minimisation in alignment with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
The Aadhaar App, meanwhile, has recorded nearly 7.5 crore downloads, with residents increasingly using it to update their details and access security features through smartphones.
More than 86 lakh mobile number updates, 22.16 lakh address updates and 40.25 lakh email updates have been completed through the app. According to UIDAI, these services allow residents to update their details without visiting an Aadhaar centre.
The app has also recorded 4.6 crore biometric lock and unlock transactions, indicating growing use of features that allow Aadhaar holders to control access to their biometrics.
An additional 3.61 lakh Aadhaar lock and unlock transactions have been carried out through the app. UIDAI said both features provide an optional additional layer of privacy and security.
The authority said the expansion of offline verification partners, alongside wider app adoption, would improve access to digital identity services for residents and organisations. The initiatives form part of the government’s Digital India programme and its efforts to improve access to technology-enabled public services.
(PIB)
