What is KYC in Aadhaar?

UIDAI has launched paperless offline e-KYC verification process for Aadhaar which allow you to voluntarily use your identity in various applications in an electronic and paperless manner.

One of the significant benefits of having a 12-digit biometric Aadhaar card is that it helps in fulfilling your Know Your Customer (KYC) norms. The UIDAI has made it simple for people in meeting KYC norms for various services electronically. Formally known as e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer), the offline Aadhaar KYC helps Indian residents in the authentication process used by financial organisations, say for a bank. UIDAI allows you to submit Aadhaar card as an address proof electronically which is valid as a photocopy of the card itself. However, there is a similar service, which is called Aadhaar paperless, which is an offline KYC process.

The UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) is the issuing authority of 12-digit Aadhaar card. It has come up with Aadhaar KYC to enhance customer service and improve user experience. Aadhaar KYC enables you to disclose your personal information in the most secured way to service providers for activating certain services like opening a bank account, availing mobile services, and many more.

Offline Aadhaar can be generated in two ways.

1. Offline paperless e-KYC using XML
2. Secure QR code

Before you go for offline verification, you need to generate your digitally signed Aadhaar details from UIDAI resident portal. You can generate offline verification, which contains several personal information such as name, date of birth, address, registered mobile number, registered email id, etc. This offers offline Aadhaar facility without visiting the store to collect the Aadhaar number. Below mentioned are the steps to generate offline Aadhaar.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of UIDAI at resident.uidai.gov.in/offlineaadhaar
• Step 2: Enter your Aadhaar number or virtual ID and the security code.
• Step 3: Click on the “Send OTP” button. You will receive OTP on your registered mobile number.
• Step 4: Enter the OTP and click on the “Submit” button.
• Step 5: You will be redirected to a new page where you need to enter your name and pin code as registered in Aadhar card. Enter the security code and click on the “Verify” button. Your Aadhaar card is now validated.
• Step 6: After successful Aadhaar validation, select the desired details with the help of a radio button which you want to download.
• Step 7: Enter the shared code for the ZIP file as requested.
• Step 8: Enter the security code and click on the “Submit” button.
• Step 9: The zip file, including the digitally signed XML file, will be downloaded. You can extract the zip file using the share code that was set previously to save the XML file on your system.

• You, as the customer, can select the paperless e-KYC option during KYC application process and share the XML file along with the share code with the verification agency.
• You are required to share the original details such as the mobile number and email id with the verification agency.
• After that, the service provider will validate the XML file against other inputs using UIDAI’s SDK/API.
• Upon successful verification of XML file, the extracted data will be displayed in the onboarding app.

Secure QR code is just like a barcode that will contain your Aadhaar-related information and a photograph. Your information is protected by a QR code and can only be read by special scanners. Hence, it prevents any kind of tampering with your KYC documents. It will allow you to get your KYC process done without revealing your Aadhaar number. You can download and print your biometric ID along with secure QR code from UIDAI’s web portal or mobile application.

The service provider will have to use a scanner that can read the QR code on the Aadhaar card or can use a QR reader from UIDAI’s web portal. On successful QR verification, the data can be accessed.

Privacy

• You can share the Aadhaar KYC data in a secured manner without the intervention of UIDAI.
• Rather than Aadhaar number, only the reference ID is shared.
• Biometric fingerprint or iris is not required for such verification.
• As an Aadhaar card holder, you get a choice of data to be shared.

Security

• The downloadable data is digitally signed by UIDAI to verify the authenticity, and any type of tampering can be easily detected.
• Verification agency can validate the data through its own face authentication process.
• KYC data is encrypted with the additional security provided by you, which gives you a control of your data.

Inclusion

• Aadhaar paperless offline e-KYC is voluntary and driven by you.
• The agencies can use the Aadhaar data with your consent.

Aadhaar paperless offline e-KYC eliminates the need of intervention from you to provide a photocopy of Aadhaar. Instead, you can download the KYC XML and provide the same to organisations wanted to have your KYC. The organisation can verify your KYC details shared by you. The details are in machine-readable XML format which is digitally signed by the UIDAI which allow the organisation to verify its authenticity and at the same time detect tampering, if any.

Aadhaar KYC is beneficial for both, service providers and you, as a customer. It brings down the paperwork involved in a regular KYC process. Service providers can save on documentation and overall operational costs. Moreover, Aadhaar KYC limits human interference making the entire KYC process secure and less prone to errors and fraud. The use of UIDAI digital signature ensures that the entire process is secured with no room for data tampering.

Recommended Read: How do you check your Aadhar Card validity?