Aadhaar Goes Fully Digital: 1 Million Mobile Updates via App

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has reported strong public adoption of the newly launched Aadhaar App , with nearly 14 million downloads recorded since its rollout on January 28 and over 1 million residents updating their registered mobile numbers through the platform. The authority said the app is witnessing an average of more than 100,000 downloads per day, reflecting growing trust in secure and convenient digital identity services.

Developed as a next-generation, privacy-first mobile application, the Aadhaar App enables Aadhaar Number Holders to carry, share, show and verify their digital identity directly from their smartphones. Available on both Android and iOS platforms, the app promotes data minimisation , consent-based access and selective sharing of personal details, reducing the need to submit photocopies of Aadhaar documents for verification.

Apart from facilitating mobile number updates, the app has enabled nearly 800,000 residents to download their e-Aadhaar , while around 357,000 users have utilised the biometric lock/unlock feature to enhance security and prevent unauthorised authentication. Advanced functionalities such as face authentication for proof of presence, access to authentication history, and QR-based verification further strengthen user control over personal data.

The app is designed to support a wide range of real-life use cases, including hotel check-ins through Offline Verification Seeking Entity (OVSE) QR code scanning, age verification for events, hospital admissions for visitors and attendants, and verification of gig workers and service partners. UIDAI is also expanding the offline verification ecosystem by onboarding more entities to use Aadhaar App-based services without requiring physical documents.

Officials from the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology said the growing adoption reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and improve service delivery. With regular upgrades, enhanced security features and a simplified interface, the Aadhaar App is emerging as a key component of India’s digital public infrastructure and is expected to play an increasingly important role in enabling secure, inclusive and paperless identity verification services across the country.