India's New Aadhaar App Launched: mAadhaar to be Discontinued
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May 30, 2026
Aadhaar has been central to India's digital identity infrastructure since 2010, processing billions of authentications across banking, taxation, and public services. However, the existing mAadhaar app displayed full Aadhaar details during every verification, offering residents little control over what was shared. With the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act now in effect, that approach needed to change.
On 28 January 2026, UIDAI launched a new Aadhaar app built around offline verification, selective data sharing, and face authentication, with direct implications for how financial institutions approach KYC.
Why Is the mAadhaar App Being Discontinued?
The mAadhaar app, while functional, had notable limitations. It displayed full Aadhaar details during authentication, leaving residents with little control over what personal information was shared. It also lacked alignment with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which mandates data minimisation and purpose-specific information sharing.
UIDAI's decision to retire mAadhaar reflects a broader shift towards privacy-first digital identity infrastructure. An infrastructure that reduces dependency on photocopies, limits data exposure, and removes the need to query Aadhaar's central database during routine verifications.
What Is the New Aadhaar App?
The new Aadhaar app is an official UIDAI mobile application built around three principles: security, privacy, and offline usability. It enables residents to carry, share, and verify their Aadhaar identity digitally, without revealing their Aadhaar number or full personal details in most use cases. The app supports 13 Indian languages.
What Are the Key Features of the New Aadhaar App?
How Does the New Aadhaar App Differ from mAadhaar?
The most material difference is in data exposure. Where mAadhaar displayed complete information during authentication, the new aadhaar app limits what is shared to only what a given use case requires.
| Feature | mAadhaar | New Aadhaar App |
| Data Sharing | Full Aadhaar details displayed | Selective, consent-based sharing |
| Offline Verification | Limited | Full QR-based offline support |
| Face Authentication | Not available | Available |
| Biometric Lock | Available | Available (improved) |
| Family Profiles | Single profile | Up to five profiles |
| In-App Updates | Not available | Mobile number and address |
| DPDP Act Alignment | Partial | Full |
Where Can the New Aadhaar App Be Used?
1. Banking and KYC
The app supports offline, consent-based verification that can be integrated into KYC workflows, reducing the need for physical Aadhaar copies and manual checks.
2. Hospitality and Check-Ins
Hotel and guest house check-ins can use QR-based verification through an Offline Verification Seeking Entity (OVSE) QR code scan, eliminating the need for photocopies at reception.
3. Healthcare
The app supports identity verification for hospital admissions, including for visitors and attendants, without accessing full Aadhaar records.
4. Cinema and Age-Restricted Services
Age verification for cinema ticket bookings is a supported use case, allowing venues to confirm eligibility without retaining personal data.
5. Gig Worker and Service Partner Onboarding
Platforms can verify worker identity quickly through QR scanning without storing sensitive personal data.
6. Professional Networking
Users can share selected contact details via a QR code, positioning the app as a digital identity card for professional settings.
How to Set Up and Switch to the New Aadhaar App?
Download the App
The app is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Search for the official UIDAI Aadhaar app and verify the developer name before downloading.
Initial Setup
1. Select your preferred language from the 13 available options
2. Register using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number or an alternate number with additional verification
3. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and verify via OTP
4. Complete face authentication to finalise setup
Switching from mAadhaar
1. Download the new Aadhaar app from your device's app store
2. Log in using your existing mAadhaar credentials — Aadhaar number and PIN, or OTP verification
3. Complete a one-time biometric authentication
4. Set a new PIN for the app
The mAadhaar app continues to operate in parallel for now, but UIDAI has confirmed it will be discontinued. There is no fixed end date announced yet.
Final Thoughts
India's digital identity infrastructure is moving decisively towards consent-based, data-minimal verification and the new Aadhaar app is the most visible step in that direction. For financial institutions, the shift is significant. Offline QR verification and selective data sharing reduce the reliance on physical documents, creating a more auditable and DPDP-compliant KYC process.
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FAQs
1. Is switching to the new Aadhaar app mandatory?
Yes, eventually. UIDAI has confirmed mAadhaar will be discontinued. While no hard deadline has been announced, users are advised to switch at the earliest to avoid disruption.
2. Will existing mAadhaar data be lost when switching?
No. Your Aadhaar data is stored centrally with UIDAI. Switching apps does not affect your records. You log in with existing credentials and re-authenticate on the new app.
3. Can the app be used without an internet connection?
Yes. The QR-based offline verification feature allows identity checks without internet access. The encrypted QR code is generated locally on the device.
4. Is it safe to store multiple family profiles on one device?
Each profile is protected by the app's authentication layers, including face ID and PIN. Access to individual profiles requires authentication, ensuring profiles remain separated.
5. Does the app store Aadhaar data on the device?
The app uses encrypted, locally stored credentials for offline verification. Full Aadhaar data is not stored in a readable format on the device, and verification requests do not query the central UIDAI database when conducted offline.
6. Can the new Aadhaar app be used for bank KYC?
Offline QR-based verification and selective data sharing are both applicable to KYC processes. Banks and financial institutions can integrate UIDAI's offline verification framework to conduct paperless, consent-based KYC. Check with your institution for current integration status.
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