
Wed Nov 19 07:40:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
Headline: Aadhaar Card to Undergo Major Overhaul: Address and Date of Birth to be Removed
New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning a significant update to the Aadhaar card, removing sensitive personal information like address and date of birth, in an effort to curb data misuse and strengthen privacy. The new Aadhaar card will feature only a photograph and a QR code, according to UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar.
The move aims to discourage the offline verification of Aadhaar through photocopies, a practice that is already restricted under the Aadhaar Act but remains prevalent in sectors like hotels and event management. The UIDAI plans to introduce new regulations, potentially as early as December, to further discourage physical copies and promote verification via QR codes and online authentication.
“If detailed information continues to be printed on the card, people will continue to treat it as authentic and misuse it,” Kumar stated, emphasizing the importance of shifting towards QR code-based verification.
The UIDAI is also developing a new app, set to replace mAadhaar, that aligns with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. This new app will be rolled out over the next 18 months. Stakeholders, including banks, hotels, and fintech companies, have been informed about the upcoming changes and the focus on using the Aadhaar number or QR code for verification purposes. The UIDAI advises that Aadhaar should not be used as document. Use only Number and QR code to verify, or it might be fake.
This overhaul signifies a move towards a more secure and privacy-focused approach to Aadhaar verification, aiming to minimize the risk of identity theft and misuse of personal data.