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UIDAI - Latest News, Login, uidai.gov.in Website Guide, UIDAI Status & Services

By Mayashree Acharya

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Updated on: Feb 12th, 2025

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6 min read

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a government body created to issue Unique Identification Numbers (UID), which are also known as ‘Aadhaar numbers’ to all the residents of India. The UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication and issue of Aadhaar cards to citizens. It shall also be responsible for operation management for the Aadhaar allotments, developing policies, processes and systems for the issue of the Aadhaar number, and adhering to strict security of the identity of the individuals. 

The first Aadhaar number was issued in September 2010 to a resident of Maharashtra. As of 30 November 2022, the Authority had issued more than 135.1071 crore Aadhaar numbers to residents across India.

Background of UIDAI

UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Full form of UIDAI:Unique Identification Authority of India
Establishing Date:12 July 2016
Under Ministry:Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
CEO of UIDAI:Amit Agarwal
UIDAI Headquarters:Delhi

UIDAI and Aadhaar

It is the brainchild of Sir Nandan Nilekani, who had the vision to deliver a unique identification number to each Indian, which would eliminate duplicate/fake identities cost-effectively. The government introduced Aadhaar, which also supports verification and authentication. The Unique Identification Authority of India was created to issue a 12-digit Unique Identification Numbers (UID) under Aadhaar to all the residents of India, besides other responsibilities mentioned above.

Objectives of UIDAI

The primary objective of the UIDAI is to issue a UID for every individual to prevent duplication of identities and for verification and authentication of identity in a cost-effective manner. 

Services provided by UIDAI

The UIDAI provides various services relating to Aadhaar online and offline. The following are the services offered by the UIDAI:

Aadhaar enrolment services

Update Aadhaar services

Other Services

Locating an enrolment centre

Update Aadhaar at enrolment centre

Verification of Aadhaar number

Booking an appointment at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra

Check the Aadhaar update status

Verification of mobile number and email ID

Checking Aadhaar status

Update demographics data and check the status

Locking and unlocking of biometrics

Downloading Aadhaar

Check the Aadhaar update history

Logging of complaints

Order Aadhaar PVC card

 

Retrieve lost or forgotten EID/UID

Check the Aadhaar PVC card status

 

Virtual ID (VID) generation

  

Aadhaar paperless offline e-KYC

  

Aadhaar authentication history

  

Aadhaar lock and unlock service

  

Aadhaar SMS services

Individuals can visit the official UIDAI website to access Aadhaar online services. They can get Aadhaar services offline through Aadhaar enrolment centres or Aadhaar Seva Kendras.

Role of UIDAI

In addition to the services offered, the UIDAI plays a vital role in ensuring confidentiality, good governance, and developing methods to provide a more robust system. Some places where the UIDAI plays an important role are:

  • To develop policy, procedure and system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals who request the same by submitting their demographic information and biometric information by undergoing a process of enrolment.
  • To ensure availability, scalability and resilience of the technology infrastructure.
  • To ensure the security and confidentiality of individuals’ identity, information, and authentication records.
  • To ensure compliance with Aadhaar Act by all individuals and agencies.
  • To make regulations and rules consistent with the Aadhaar Act, for carrying out the provisions of the Aadhaar Act.

UIDAI Aadhaar enrollment centres:

Aadhaar Seva Kendra is a facility provided by UIDAI. if you want to create an Aadhaar card or update information on your Aadhaar card.  You will have to visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an enrollment centre. Click here to know more.

Organisational Structure of UIDAI

Unique Identification Authority of India (“Authority/UIDAI”) has its Head Office (HO) in New Delhi and eight Regional Offices (ROs) across the country. UIDAI has two Data Centres, one at Hebbal (Bengaluru), Karnataka and another at Manesar (Gurugram), Haryana

Composition of the Authority
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) consists of a Chairperson, two part-time Members and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is also the Member-Secretary of the Authority. The present composition of the Authority is as under:

Chairperson (Part-time): Sh. Neelkanth Mishra

Member (Part-time): Prof. Mausam

Member (Part-time): Sh. Nilesh Shah

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sh. Amit Agrawal, IAS (CG:93), is the legal representative and administrative head of the Authority.

The DDGs are assisted by Assistant Directors General (ADGs), Deputy Directors, Section Officers and Assistant Section Officers. The HQ has a total sanctioned strength of 127 officers and staff members, including the accounts and IT branches. Each regional office is headed by a Deputy Director General (DDG). 

Grievances Redressal of UIDAI

Grievances at UIDAI are received through the following modes:

  • Call to toll-free number 

Grievances can be lodged by calling the toll-free number of the UIDAI - 1947. The grievances are examined and then forwarded online to the concerned officer to dispose of/resolve them.

  • Post 

Residents have the option to post their grievances to the headquarters or regional offices of the Unique Identification Authority of India. The grievances are examined and then forwarded in hardcopy to the concerned officer/public grievance officer at UIDAI. The concerned regional office/concerned section disposes of the grievance by replying directly to the complainant under intimation to the grievance cell, UIDAI.

  • Public Grievance Portal  

Grievances are received by the UIDAI through the public grievance portal – pgportal.gov.in. Grievances can also be registered on the UIDAI website by entering the required details.  

  • Email

Grievances can be sent to the following emailhelp@uidai.gov.in.

UIDAI Regional Offices

Office by RegionState or Union Territories covered
MumbaiGujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
DelhiMadhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan
BengaluruKerala, Tamil Naidu, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep and Karnataka
ChandigarhChandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh
GuwahatiTripura and Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
HyderabadAndaman and Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
LucknowUttar Pradesh
RanchiWest Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar

State Offices & their Jurisdiction

Regional Offices (ROs)

State Offices (ROs)

Jurisdiction

RO Bengaluru

Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala

RO Delhi

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh

RO Hyderabad

Bhubaneswar

Odisha

RO Mumbai

Ahmedabad

Gujarat

RO Ranchi

Kolkata

West Bengal

Masked Aadhaar

A Masked Aadhaar reveals only the last four digits and hides or masks the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number. The Masked Aadhaar has been issued for the last 5 years but not many were aware of it. UIDAI recently issued an advisory to increase awareness amongst people and promote the use of Masked Aadhaar. Click here to know more

A Masked Aadhaar reveals only the last four digits and hides or masks the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number. The Masked Aadhaar has been issued for the last 5 years but not many were aware of it. UIDAI recently issued an advisory to increase awareness amongst people and promote the use of Masked Aadhaar. 

m-Aadhaar

The UIDAI has released a new app for Android and IOS users to enable Aadhaar holders to download their Aadhaar card on mobile phones and keep it handy. The app is known as the mAadhaar app. The app allows you to do the following:

  • Profile creation: The Aadhaar profile can only be created if you have a registered mobile number
  • You can lock and unlock your biometrics information
  • Virtual ID generation

Click here to learn more.

Aadhaar PVC card

UIDAI has launched an online service named “Order Aadhaar PVC Card,” allowing you to have your Aadhaar details printed on a PVC card for a nominal fee. It is designed to fit conveniently into your wallet, resembling a debit or credit card. You can place an order using either your registered or unregistered number. Click here to find out more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the features and benefits of Aadhaar?

One Aadhaar: Aadhaar is a unique number, and no resident can have a duplicate number since it is linked to their individual biometrics; thereby identifying fake and ghost identities which result in leakages today. Savings from eliminating duplicates and fakes through Aadhaar-based identification will further enable governments to expand benefits to other eligible residents.
Portability: Aadhaar is a universal number, and agencies and services can contact the central Unique Identification database from anywhere in the country to authenticate a beneficiary's identity by availing authentication services.
Inclusion of those without any existing identity documents: A problem in reaching benefits to poor and marginalised residents is that they often lack the identification documents they need to receive State benefits; the "Introducer" system, which has been approved for data verification for the UIDAI will enable such residents to establish an identity.
Electronic benefit transfers: The UID-enabled bank account network will offer a secure and low-cost platform to directly remit benefits to residents without the heavy costs associated with benefit distribution today; as a result, the leakages in the current system will also be stemmed.
Aadhaar-based authentication to confirm entitlement delivered to the beneficiary: The UIDAI will offer online authentication services for agencies who wish to validate a resident's identity; this service will enable confirmation of the entitlement actually reaching the intended beneficiary. Improved services through increased transparency: Clear accountability and transparent monitoring would significantly improve access and quality of entitlements to beneficiaries and the agency alike.
Self-service puts residents in control: Using Aadhaar as an authentication mechanism, residents should be able to access up-to-date information about their entitlements, demand services and redress their grievances directly from their mobile phones, kiosks or other means. In the case of self-service on the resident's mobile, security is assured using two-factor authentication (i.e. by proving possession of the resident's registered Mobile Number and knowledge of the resident's Aadhaar PIN). These standards are compliant with the Reserve Bank of India's approved standards for Mobile Banking and Payments.

What are the do’s and don’ts for filling up the Aadhaar update form?

  • The form must be filled using only capital letters
  • Fill in all the fields for updating
  • Mobile number is compulsory for any updates to take place
  • Fill out the form in English and the local language used at the time of Aadhaar enrolment
  • Names must not have salutations such as Mr / Mrs / Ms / Dr
  • Make sure that the full and complete address as the Aadhaar card will be dispatched to that address
  • Enter name clearly with signature or thumbprints when self-attesting supporting documents
  • Attach relevant documents that support the required update only
  • Incorrect information and lack of support documents will cause the application to be rejected
What to do if I have lost my UIDAI Aadhaar card?

If you have lost/misplaced your Aadhaar card. Not to worry. You can get a duplicate Aadhaar card by downloading the PDF/ e-Aadhaar online by visiting the UIDAI website and accessing Aadhaar online services.

For how long is the Aadhaar card valid?

The Aadhaar card/number is valid for life.

Can the UIDAI Aadhaar card be made online?

No, you need to visit the Aadhaar enrolment centre to complete your demographic details to get an Aadhaar card. To find the Aadhaar enrolment centre near you, visit the UIDAI website and search for the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre.

What is the purpose of having an Aadhaar Card?

Aadhaar is a unique identification number that enables each resident of India with the following:

  • Proof of Identity
  • Proof of Address
  • Access to Government Subsidy
  • Eligibility to open and operate Bank Accounts
  • Income Tax – Adhaar is a mandatory requirement for processing and filing income tax returns
  • Phone Connection
  • Gas Connection
  • Mutual Fund – Aadhaar Card is beneficial to complete e-KYC for mutual fund investments
How Aadhaar PVC Card is different from an Aadhaar Letter?

The Aadhaar letter is a laminated paper-based document issued to the Aadhaar number holders after enrolment or update.  Aadhaar PVC Card is PVC based durable and easy to carry card with multiple security features.  Aadhaar PVC card is equally valid.

What are the different forms of Aadhaar and what are their features?

The different forms of Aadhaar are Aadhaar Letter, Aadhaar PVC card, eAadhaar and mAadhaar. All forms of Aadhaar are equally valid and acceptable.

Is it compulsory to have a registered mobile number to use mAadhaar services?

No. Anyone with a smartphone can install and use the mAadhaar App.
Without a registered mobile number, an Aadhaar number holder can avail of only a few services, such as ordering an Aadhaar PVC card, Locating an Enrolment Center, Verifying Aadhaar, Scanning a QR code, etc.
However registered mobile number is mandatory to create the profile in mAadhaar and use the same as digital identity and avail all other Aadhaar services. The OTP will be sent only to registered mobile for creating the profile in mAadhaar.

Where can mAadhaar be used?

The mAadhaar app can be used anywhere, anytime in India. mAadhaar is more than an Aadhaar card in a wallet. On the one hand, the mAadhaar profile is accepted as valid ID proof, and on the other, residents can use the app's features to share their eKYC or QR code with service providers who seek Aadhaar verification of their customers before providing Aadhaar services.

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