Aadhaar is 12-digit unique identification number that is obtained by the residents of India. It is considered as a proof of residence and identification as approved by the Government of India. The UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has made it mandatory for the citizens of India to get registered to Aadhaar. However, Aadhaar is more than a simple piece of document. The introduction of Aadhaar has made it easy for the Government officials, bank employees and other organizations to identify a person. Since more than half of our daily transactions happen on phone, it was essential for the Government to launch a mobile app.
Therefore, the UIDAI launched the "mAadhaar app" to provide an interface to the Aadhaar Number Holders to carry their demographic information viz. Name, Date of Birth, Gender & Address along with photograph as linked with their Aadhaar Number in smartphones. This app will help you get rid of carrying the photocopy or the original card for verification and availing Aadhaar based services.
The UIDAI launched the mAadhaar app to allow the users to carry the digital copy of their Aadhaar card alongside details such as Aadhaar number, name and date of birth, gender address, and photograph. The main objective of launching the mobile app was to help users carry their Aadhaar information in form of a soft copy, instead of carrying a physical copy all the time.
Currently, the mAadhaar is only available for the Android smartphone users and can be downloaded from google play store. And once you download the mAadhaar app on your smartphone, your Aadhaar profile which includes your registered phone number, address, gender, name, photograph, and other details will be stored on the app. In case any time a service provider requests for Aadhaar card details, you can access your mAadhaar app and provide the required information.
Following are the steps to download mAadhaar on your smartphone.
Step 1: Visit Google Play Store to download mAadhaar for free on your smartphone
Step 2: Type mAadhaar on the search button
Step 3: Select mAadhaar UIDAI and click on ‘install’ to download the app.
Step 4: Post the app is downloaded on your device, open it.
Step 5: The page will then ask you to create a password before importing your Aadhaar profile on your phone.
Step 6: Is to enter a password.
The following steps will help you to create your profile on the m-Aadhaar app.
Step1: Input your Aadhaar number or scan the e-Aadhaar QR code.
Step2: An OPT (one time password) will be sent to your mobile.
Step3: The app auto feeds the OTP
Step4: Click on Verify
Step5: You have successfully created your Aadhaar card on your mobile
Post completing step no. 6 of ‘Steps to download mAadhaar on your smartphone’, the following steps will help you to link your Aadhaar details on your mobile phone.
Step 1: Open the mAadhaar app and enter the password you created.
Step 2: You can create a profile by providing your Aadhaar number or by scanning the QR code.
Step 3: Post you enter the number or scan the barcode, click on the “Verify” button, at the bottom of the screen. Make sure you don’t navigate from the page for some time.
Step 4: If all the details provided by you match, you will automatically receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.
Step 5: It comes across as one of the most convenient and hassle-free apps, as it is designed in such a way that, once you receive the OTP on your registered mobile number, the OTP will automatically enter the interface and there is no need for you to type it manually.
Step 6: Post entering the OTP, you will be able to see your Aadhaar profile, which gives you a front view of your Aadhaar card. Details like your name, date of birth, gender, with your photo on the left and the QR code on the right will be seen in the front view of your profile. While the back view will show your address details.
The following steps will guide you to delete your profile from the mAadhaar app.
Step 1: Open the mAadhaar app on your mobile screen.
Step 2: Once you open your profile, click the drop-down menu, at the top right portion of the screen.
Step 3: Select ‘Delete Profile’
Step 4: However, you need to enter your password for authentication, this step is helpful if by mistake you clicked on the delete option.
Step 5: Your profile gets instantly deleted.
Step 1: Open the mAadhaar app on your smartphone
Step 2: Login by entering your password
Step 3: Click on your profile and open
Step 4: Click on the “Biometric Settings” from the menu on the top-right corner of the app.
Step 5: Then tick the “Enable Biometric Lock” option.
Step 6: A disclaimer is shown which says that the biometrics may still be used for the next six hours.
Step 7: Click on ‘ok’
Step 8: An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number
Step 9: The OTP is automatically fed by the app.
Step 10: Post which your biometrics will be locked immediately.
Step 1: Go to the top-right menu and click on “Biometric Settings”
Step 2: A message will be displayed, “Your biometrics will be temporarily unlocked.”
Step 3: Click on ‘Yes’
Step 4: Your biometrics will be unlocked for 10 minutes.
Step 5: If you want to disable the biometric lock, you can do it by visiting the UIDAI’s website.
The main intent behind the introduction of mAadhaar, of course, remains to help user synchronize his Aadhaar to this mobile app. This, in turn, would help them keep their information and identity always handy.
Apart from that the other features consist of the following:
Flexibility: The user has the flexibility to download this app anytime and anywhere. The demographic details given in Aadhaar are linked to the app and is easy to download at a time.
Security: The Biometric locking/unlocking helps to keep the authentication secure. Also, the app does not allow any others to unlock unless the user’s biometric data is given.
TOTP based password: mAadhaar is TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password) based generated app. This is a temporary password which can be used instead of a message-based OTP.
The biggest advantage of having the mAadhaar app is that you do not have to carry the physical card with you.
You can easily use the app for completing the eKYC for banks and other financial transactions. In addition to that, a user can also share the eKYC with any service provider.
The mAadhaar app makes it easier for you to share data with third-party applications through NFC, QR codes, barcodes, or even email your details
The app seems to one of the finest inventions, however, there are some constraints like…
There is no provision for biometric authentication in the app, i.e.: fingerprints will not be accepted instead of a password. This is disappointing as Aadhaar is the proponent of biometrics and UIDAI could have worked in this direction.
No logout or close button to close the app, considering this a sensitive app there should have been an option to log out or close.
How to download the mAadhaar app for iOS?
mAadhaar is not available for iOS users for now.
What does the mAadhaar app do?
It allows the citizens to carry their Aadhaar information on their smartphones so that there is no need to carry the physical card or the photocopy of Aadhaar anywhere.
What if my phone number is not registered?
In case your number is not registered, the verification won’t work.
Is mAadhaar card safe?
Yes, the mAadhaar card is safe, as it cannot be transferred or forged.
What if I lost my mobile with the mAadhaar app installed?
In case you lose your mobile phone, one will not be able to open the app without the four-digit pin.
Where to download the mAadhaar app?
Since mAadhaar is currently available for Android users only, you can visit the app store and download mAadhaar easily.
Is it possible to link Mobile Number with Aadhaar through OTP?
Yes, it is possible to link your Aadhaar number with the mobile. The mobile phone users can dial 14546 to link their Aadhaar number with the mobile number through IVRS-based OTP (One-Time PIN) verification. The UIDAI has issued directives for generating OTP either through the service provider's website or through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services to facilitate the Aadhaar linking with a mobile phone number.
