Photocopy of Aadhaar need not be produced to unregistered private organisations like hotels and Malls - Govt of India releases a much delayed advisory

Coimbatore: Government of India through the Ministry of Information and Technology has issued a press release to alert the public and consumers to not produce photocopies of Aadhar to private hotels and Malls or to private entities who are not licensed by UIDAI to receive Aadhar numbers. This has caused much bemusement among the public who took to social media asking “why so late? We have already shared many times with hotels and other such institutions”

The release stated, “Alternatively, please use a masked Aadhaar which displays only the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar number. It can be downloaded from UIDAI official website myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. Please select the option “Do you want a masked Aadhaar” and proceed to download.

The existence of anyAadhaar number can be verified at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/verifyAadhaar. To verify offline, you can scan the QR code on e- Aadhaar or Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar PVC card using QR code scanner in the mAadhaar mobile application.

Please avoid using a public computer at an internet café/kiosk to download e-Aadhaar. However if you do so, please ensure that you delete all the downloaded copies of e-Aadhaar permanently from that computer.

Only those organizations that have obtained a User License from the UIDAI can use Aadhaar for establishing the identity of a person. Unlicensed private entities like hotels or film halls are not permitted to collect or keep copies of Aadhaar card. It is an offence under the Aadhaar Act 2016. Ifa private entity demands to see your Aadhaar card, or seeks a photocopy of your Aadhaar card, please verify that they have valid User License from the UIDAI.”