Update: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has clarified the UIDAI advisory from May 29, 2022, saying, "It is learned that it was provided in the context of an attempt to misuse a photoshopped Aadhaar card." The public was urged not to give a photocopy of their Aadhaar to any institution since it could be exploited, according to the release. A disguised Aadhaar, which only shows the last four digits of the Aadhaar number, can also be utilized.
However, the Press Release has been retracted with immediate effect due to the danger of misinterpretation.
Holders of UIDAI-issued Aadhaar cards are only recommended to use and share their UIDAI Aadhaar numbers with caution.
The Aadhaar Identity Authentication ecosystem offers appropriate functionality for preserving and safeguarding the Aadhaar holder's identity and privacy."
The Indian government has issued an order prohibiting anyone from sharing their Aadhaar card photocopy with anyone, even organizations. The rule essentially states that sharing or distributing photocopies of your Aadhaar card may be exploited by others. "Do not distribute photocopies of your Aadhaar with any organizations since it can be exploited," the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) stated in a news release.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) also advises you to use caution when utilizing your Aadhaar card for verification or documentation. People should also avoid downloading Aadhaar copies from public computers like those found in cyber cafes, according to the announcement. If you still wish to utilize this approach to obtain a copy of your Aadhaar, make sure to delete any e-copies from the system, including the recycling bin.
In addition to cautioning individuals against misusing Aadhaar duplicates, the MeitY directive also cautions entities involved in the usage of Aadhaar for various reasons. It seeks to ensure that organizations with the necessary licenses use Aadhaar to identify people and that they have obtained a User License from the UIDAI.
Other businesses, including hotels and movie theaters, are prohibited from obtaining and storing copies of the Aadhaar card. It is a violation under the Aadhaar Act 2016 if they engage in such acts.
How to Share Your Aadhaar Card Safely
People in the country should utilize the disguised Aadhaar card, which only shows the last four digits of your Aadhaar number, according to the press release. Anyone having a valid Aadhaar number can obtain it by visiting the UIDAI's official website.
Make sure you choose the "Do you want a masked Aadhaar" option before downloading a copy of your Aadhaar card from this page.
The UIDAI has also mentioned a safe method of confirming any Aadhaar number. You can check the official status of your Aadhaar number at https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/verifyAadhaar. In offline mode, the verification stage is also feasible. All you have to do is use the QR code scanner in the mAadhaar mobile app, which is accessible for both Android and iPhone users, to scan the QR code on the e-Aadhaar card.
In India, Aadhaar is a mandatory document for all applications. To avoid misusing it, you should immediately begin following the Indian government's guidelines.