The Unique Identification Authority of India officially introduced a new Aadhaar mobile app designed to facilitate secure, consent-driven identity verification while minimizing the personal data disclosed by users.

The app aims to increase Aadhaar’s application for daily services while safeguarding privacy.

The application enables Aadhaar holders to provide only the necessary credentials needed for a transaction — like age or name — rather than revealing their complete Aadhaar information.

The application also allows offline Aadhaar verification via a new type of entities referred to as Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs).

These organizations can create a QR code that users scan via the Aadhaar app to digitally share signed credentials without linking to UIDAI’s central database.

During the launch event, representatives revealed that nearly 20 organizations, such as Samsung, Google, Pine Labs, Pay Nearby, and others, have been integrated as OVSEs for designated roles.

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This offline validation procedure aims to facilitate scenarios like age-restricted access to applications and services, entry checks, and identity verification without internet connectivity.

During the event marking the app's launch, IT Secretary S Krishnan stated that the government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) were aware of privacy issues and designed the platform with data minimisation as a core principle.

He mentioned that previous instances of Aadhaar data leaks mainly resulted from excessive data gathering by third parties instead of breaches of the primary Aadhaar database.

The breach did not occur in the central Aadhaar database. Essentially, someone had gathered Aadhaar data, and that data was compromised. The collection of Aadhaar data is what generates vulnerability. “This is what we aim to reduce,” Krishnan stated.

Krishnan states that empowering users with more control over their shared information will enhance trust in Aadhaar-based verification.

“Allowing users more control over what they share will enhance their comfort,” he stated.

He also connected the app to the stipulations of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, emphasizing that age verification has been a significant policy issue.

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“A frequent inquiry during the DPDP process was regarding the implementation of age restrictions.” “Using the Aadhaar app, we can implement age restrictions for applications without disclosing excessive information,” Krishnan stated.

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The launch signifies an important move in UIDAI’s strategy to broaden Aadhaar authentication for private-sector and offline applications, all while ensuring that data sharing remains purpose-specific and based on consent.