New Delhi | November 11, 2025 | For more than a decade, Aadhaar has stood at the center of India’s digital governance ecosystem — a 12-digit identity number linked to nearly every aspect of public life, from tax filings to welfare benefits. Now, the UIDAI is taking the next step: bringing that identity directly into citizens’ smartphones.
Unveiled this week for both Android and iOS users, the new Aadhaar App replaces the earlier mAadhaar application, introducing face-scan authentication, biometric locks, and support for multiple family profiles. Officials say the goal is simple — convenience and security.
Instead of fumbling for a physical card, users can now access their Aadhaar credentials, share QR codes for verification, and lock their biometrics with a single tap. “It’s designed for an era when mobile phones are the new wallets,” said a senior UIDAI official involved in the rollout.
The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader “Digital India” vision, which seeks to move government services online and reduce dependence on paper documents.
From mAadhaar to a Smarter Successor
While mAadhaar offered basic features such as downloading e-Aadhaar or generating virtual IDs, the new app represents a more ambitious overhaul. It supports face unlock, biometric locks, and masked QR code sharing, allowing users to protect sensitive data even during physical verification.
Perhaps its most touted feature is multi-profile management, which allows a single user to store and manage up to five Aadhaar profiles on one device. This could simplify life for families who juggle physical cards for children and dependents.
The user interface, redesigned from the ground up, reflects UIDAI’s effort to court both urban professionals and semi-digital users. The app also supports verifiable credentials — a crucial step toward integrating Aadhaar with India’s upcoming decentralized digital ID ecosystem.
“It’s not just about convenience; it’s about creating trust in digital governance,” said Rachita Sharma, a digital identity researcher at the Centre for Internet and Society. “If people see security in practice, not just on paper, adoption will follow.”
Bridging Convenience — or Widening the Divide?
Yet, for all its promise, the new Aadhaar App highlights a lingering paradox in India’s digital revolution: technology moves faster than access.
Large sections of the population still rely on feature phones or lack reliable connectivity. In many rural regions, poor signal quality or shared devices make app-based services difficult to use. “The physical Aadhaar card is still the reality for millions,” said Sharma. “This app could be transformative, but only for those already inside the digital ecosystem.”
There are also functionality gaps. Early users note that the app does not yet replicate every mAadhaar feature, including options to download digital card PDFs, verify mobile numbers or emails, or order physical PVC cards.
Moreover, multi-profile access requires all Aadhaar numbers to be linked to the same registered mobile number — a limitation that could complicate usage in families with different contact numbers or shared phones.
Security, Privacy, and the Limits of Trust
UIDAI insists that the new app’s biometric locks and masked QR sharing will make Aadhaar safer than ever. Still, privacy advocates urge caution.
“The security of Aadhaar is only as strong as the phone it’s on,” said Delhi-based tech policy analyst Devansh Bhatia. “If devices are lost or compromised, the risks multiply.” Bhatia added that Aadhaar’s growing integration into daily life — from banking to SIM registration — makes any breach potentially catastrophic.
Even supporters acknowledge that digital inclusion remains a concern. “The app is a welcome step, but we can’t assume everyone will be ready for it,” said a senior government IT advisor, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We must ensure that no one is excluded from services simply because they don’t have the right device.”
The new Aadhaar App may mark a milestone in India’s identity infrastructure — sleek, mobile, and security-conscious. But its true test will come not from those who already live online, but from the millions who don’t.
As India races toward a digital-first future, the challenge, as one observer put it, “is not building the technology — it’s ensuring everyone can use it.”
