iWorld
Aadhaar App crosses 5 crore downloads as digital services gain ground
Over 60 lakh mobile, 15 lakh address and 23 lakh email updates done through app
MUMBAI: Aadhaar is getting a little more app-solutely convenient. The Aadhaar App has crossed 50 million (5 crore) downloads, signalling growing adoption of smartphone-based services among Aadhaar holders and strengthening the app’s role as a digital interface between residents and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
The app allows users to access a growing set of Aadhaar services without necessarily making a trip to an Aadhaar centre. These include mobile number, address and email updates, biometric lock and unlock, and e-Aadhaar downloads.
The numbers suggest that the app is being used for more than just downloading a digital copy of the identity document. More than 60 lakh mobile numbers, over 15 lakh addresses and more than 23 lakh email addresses have been updated through the Aadhaar App.
That growing usage points to a broader shift in how residents access Aadhaar-related services, with digital channels increasingly becoming part of the routine rather than the backup option.
The Aadhaar App has been designed around the principle of “Show, Share and Verify”, giving Aadhaar number holders greater control over how their information is used during identity verification.
The push towards digital verification is also expanding beyond the app itself. UIDAI said it has now onboarded more than 200 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) since the mechanism was rolled out in January.
The OVSE ecosystem enables service providers to verify Aadhaar information through offline mechanisms without requiring real-time access to UIDAI’s central database.
These methods include QR code-based verification and secure digitally signed documents, allowing participating entities to authenticate identity information while reducing dependence on live connectivity.
The offline model is built around sharing only the information necessary for verification, giving residents greater control over their Aadhaar data and adding a privacy-focused layer to identity checks.
For service providers, it offers a paperless verification route, while for residents, the model is intended to make the process more convenient without requiring every verification to connect directly to UIDAI’s central systems.
The expansion of the Aadhaar App and the OVSE network forms part of the government’s broader Digital India push, with the focus shifting towards public services that can be accessed more easily, securely and digitally.
With 5 crore downloads now under its belt and more than 200 offline verification entities onboarded, UIDAI’s digital push is increasingly putting Aadhaar services in the palm of the user’s hand.
