UIDAI Plans New Aadhaar Design With Only Photo and QR Code

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is considering a major redesign of Aadhaar cards, potentially removing printed personal details such as name, address, and the 12-digit Aadhaar number. According to UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, the new format would feature only the holder’s photograph and a secure QR code. The proposal will be formally reviewed in December 2025.

Kumar said the change aims to curb data misuse and prevent unauthorized offline verification practices by hotels, events, and private organizations. Despite clear restrictions under the Aadhaar Act, many entities continue to collect and store photocopies of Aadhaar cards, increasing risks of fraud, impersonation, and identity theft.

Explaining the reasoning, Kumar noted, “If details continue to be printed, people will keep accepting what is printed. Those who know how to misuse it will continue to misuse it.” By limiting the card to a QR code, all sensitive information would be stored securely and accessed only through authenticated verification.

To support the redesign, UIDAI is launching a new Aadhaar mobile app to replace mAadhaar. The app will offer QR code-based verification combined with facial recognition, ensuring that individuals can share only the information required for specific transactions. It will support use cases such as hotel check-ins, gated community access, event entry, and age verification—similar to DigiYatra at airports.

The overhaul reflects UIDAI’s push to strengthen privacy, reduce misuse, and modernize Aadhaar-based verification systems.

As per Mr. Roshan Kumar Sahu,Co-Founder-FaceOff Technologies can support UIDAI’s new approach by enabling secure QR code verification with advanced facial recognition, ensuring instant, tamper-proof identity validation without exposing personal details. Its AI-driven trust framework prevents impersonation, eliminates reliance on photocopies, and allows organizations to authenticate users safely while fully complying with Aadhaar privacy rules.