Aadhaar Card Services by UIDAI

The Government of India has enrolled nearly 138 crore Indians for Aadhaar. The Aadhaar card is a versatile document that allows any Indian to verify identity, address, and date of birth for all purposes, including government scheme benefits and financial services. 

Since the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) issues the Aadhaar card, it provides a wide range of Aadhaar-related services. Residents can avail these services online or offline via Aadhaar service centres. In this article, we will cover all the Aadhaar services and how you can avail of them.

What Are Aadhaar Services?

Aadhaar services are the Aadhaar card-related services offered by UIDAI for free or paid (with nominal fees) to Aadhaar cardholders. They offer a wide range of services, from verifying personal information to updating phone numbers and locking biometrics. 

Aadhaar cardholders can avail of Aadhaar-related services from the offline centres opened by the UIDAI, such as Aadhaar Service Kendras (ASK) or Aadhaar enrolment centres. Here, people can enrol for Aadhaar cards and update the information on their existing Aadhaar cards, including name, address, date of birth, and biometric information. 

Additionally, Aadhaar services are also available online on the UIDAI website. Most of the Aadhaar services are provided on the UIDAI website, while others have to be done offline while visiting the Aadhaar offline centres. 

Types of Aadhaar Card Services

Here are the different Aadhaar card services you can avail from UIDAI’s website or the Aadhaar Seva Kendra:

• Aadhaar Card Verification 

With this service, you can determine whether your Aadhaar number is verified by UIDAI or not. Organisations and government institutions can use it to verify whether a given Aadhaar number is valid and active. It also gives some personal information, including an age range, state of residence and the last few digits of the person’s contact number.

• Registered Mobile or Email Verification 

This service is used to verify the details of the mobile number and email address provided during registration. Verifying a phone number or email ID lets you know if they are registered with the UIDAI. If you don’t have active contact details, you will be unable to use the different Aadhaar services. 

• VID (Virtual ID) Generation 

Aadhaar VID is a 16-digit temporary number generated against an Aadhaar number, which can be used instead of your Aadhaar number. This enables you to comply with verification and e-KYC requirements without having to disclose your Aadhaar number. On UIDAI's myAadhaar portal, you can generate and retrieve VID numbers by entering your Aadhaar number. 

• Lock/Unlocking Biometrics 

Aadhaar holders can secure their biometrics data, including fingerprints and iris scans, and prevent any entity from using them without authorisation by locking their biometrics. Before you lock your biometric data, it is advisable to generate a virtual ID, as it would make it easier to unlock the data. Note that you can be denied certain services if your biometric data is locked. 

• Retrieving Lost or Forgotten EID/Aadhaar 

If you have lost or somehow forgotten your 12-digit Aadhaar number (UID) or 28-digit Enrolment ID (EID), you can retrieve them both from the myAadhaar portal. Just enter your name and mobile number and verify with an OTP to get the UID or EID displayed. 

• Checking Aadhaar Authentication History 

On UIDAI’s website, you can view up to 50 Aadhaar authentication requests sent by various parties. After you enter a few basic details followed by OTP verification, you can see details such as the date of transactions, authentication type and names of organisations that carried out each authentication. 

• Locking/Unlocking Aadhaar 

By locking your Aadhaar number, you can prevent any organisation from carrying out authentications without your prior approval. This will lock your Aadhaar number, and you have to use a virtual ID to unlock and lock it again. Note that this may lead to denial of service by various companies if they cannot verify your Aadhaar. 

• Offline e-KYC Verification 

With this Aadhaar service, UIDAI creates a secure and shareable document that you can use for verification purposes. This is a digitally signed XML copy of your Aadhaar card with a time stamp that you can use for offline identity verification. You need to enter a 4-digit share code, which is used as the password for the e-KYC, and save the document to your desktop/mobile. 

• Checking Bank and Aadhaar Linking Status 

Using this service, you can check if your Aadhaar card has been linked to your bank account. By entering your Aadhaar number and OTP, you can view the linking status as given by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI). It shows you the name of the bank, activation status and date of activation. 

• Aadhaar Services via SMS 

UIDAI allows Aadhaar cardholders to avail various Aadhaar services by sending certain SMS codes from their registered mobile numbers. The various services available through SMS include VID generation, unlocking/locking Aadhaar, unlocking/locking biometric information, retrieving OTP, and more. All SMS must be sent to 1947.

How to Avail Aadhaar Services Offered by the UIDAI?

You can get a range of services online at the myAadhaar portal or offline at any Aadhaar enrolment centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra. Here’s how you can avail these services:

Online Services 

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select any service on the given page to avail of the service.

Offline Services

You can book an appointment online at any Aadhaar enrolment centre or an Aadhaar Seva Kendra to get Aadhaar-related services. Besides enrolment, you can update your mobile number, email, name, gender, date of birth and biometric details at these centres, which cannot be done online. 

Here is the process to book appointment for Aadhaar services offline:

Step 1: Go to UIDAI’s official website. 

Step 2: Navigate to ‘My Aadhaar’ and click on ‘Book an Appointment’ under ‘Get Aadhaar’. 

Step 3: Enter the required information and schedule an appointment at the nearest Aadhaar centre.

Step 4: Visit the Aadhaar centre where you have booked an appointment. 

Step 5: Contact the help desk and show your appointment slip. You will get a token for your appointment. 

Step 6: Go to the token desk when called and avail of the Aadhaar service you require.

Step 7: Make payment (if any) at the cash counter and get the acknowledgement slip from the officials. 

How to Use the Various Services Offered by UIDAI?

Here are the step-by-step guides for availing different Aadhaar services on myAadhaar portal. 

Verifying Aadhaar Number

Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website. 

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘My Aadhaar’ and click ‘Verify an Aadhaar Number’ under ‘Aadhaar Services’. 

Step 3: On the next tab, select ‘Check Aadhaar Validity’ option.

Step 4: Enter the Aadhaar number you wish to verify and enter the Captcha code and click ‘Proceed’. 

Step 5: UIDAI will show if the Aadhaar number is active, inauthentic or inactivated, along with other details. 

Verifying Email/Mobile Number

Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website. 

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘My Aadhaar’ and click ‘Verify Email/Mobile Number’ under ‘Aadhaar Services’. 

Step 3: On the next page, click on either ‘Verify Mobile Number’ or ‘Verify Email Address’ based on which one you want to verify. 

Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number, mobile number or email ID and type in the correct Captcha code and click ‘Submit’. 

Step 5: A prompt will appear on the screen telling you if your mobile number or email is correct. 

Locking/Unlocking Biometrics

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select ‘Lock/Unlock’ biometrics’ tab. 

Step 5: Read the instructions to lock/unlock biometrics and click on ‘Next’. 

Step 6: Confirm that you want to lock/unlock your biometric to get it locked/unlocked.

VID (Virtual ID) Generation

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select ‘Generate Virtual ID’ tab. 

Step 5: Choose either ‘Generate VID’ or ‘Retrieve VID’ and click ‘Next’. 

Step 6: You will get a 16-digit VID that you can use instead of your Aadhaar number. 

Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/Aadhaar: 

Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website. 

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘My Aadhaar’ and click ‘Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID’ under ‘Aadhaar Services’. 

Step 3: Select whether you want to search your Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID. 

Step 4: Enter the rest of the details, including your name, mobile number or email ID and type in the Captcha code and click ‘Send OTP’. 

Step 5: Enter the OTP sent to your mobile or email and retrieve your EID or UID details.  

Aadhaar Authentication History: 

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select ‘Authentication History’ tab.

Step 5: Select the type of authentication service you want to avail or choose ‘All’. 

Step 6: Select a start and end date for authentication checks up to a period of 6 months. Then, click on ‘Fetch Authentication History’.

Lock/Unlock Aadhaar: 

Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website. 

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘My Aadhaar’ and click ‘Aadhaar Lock and Unlock’ under ‘Aadhaar Services’. 

Step 3: Read through the instructions given on the screen and click on ‘Next’. Note that to lock or unlock your Aadhaar number, you will need to generate a VID (Virtual ID). 

Step 4: Enter the VID generated before, and enter your name and PIN code. 

Step 5: Type in the Captcha code and authenticate with OTP to lock or unlock your Aadhaar. 

Offline e-KYC Verification: 

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select ‘Offline eKYC’ tab. 

Step 5: Choose any 4 digits as a share code and click on ‘Next’. 

Step 6: Finally, click on ‘Download’ to get an offline XML Aadhaar file. 

Bank and Aadhaar Linking Status:

Step 1: Visit the official myAadhaar portal. 

Step 2: Click on ‘Login’ and enter the Aadhaar number and Captcha Code and click ‘Login With OTP’. 

Step 3: The OTP will be sent to your registered phone number. Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.

Step 4: Select ‘Bank Seeding Status’ tab.

Step 5: You will know the linking status, account number and name of the bank. 

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) provides a range of offline and online Aadhaar services that you can avail from anywhere. Offline services are provided by various enrolment centres and Aadhaar Seva Kendras, while online services are available on UIDAI's website or myAadhaar portal.

Related Aadhaar Articles:
How to Generate Aadhaar Virtual ID
Aadhaar Card Link with Mobile Number Status Check
How to Link Aadhaar to Email ID
IRCTC Aadhaar Linking
Aadhaar Card for NRIs
How to Download and Fill Aadhaar Enrollment Form