Have you heard about the new Virtual ID for Aadhaar cards? Ever since the government decided to take steps to make Aadhaar cards more secure, everyone seems to be talking about this Virtual ID. However, very few people have complete information about it.
Since instances of misuse of Aadhaar card information have come to light, people have been worried about the security of their Aadhaar cards. To address this concern, the government has emphasized the use of the Virtual ID.
Today, we will learn what this 16-digit Virtual Aadhaar ID is and how it can protect your Aadhaar card. So, let’s get started without further ado.
What is an Aadhaar Card Virtual ID?
The Virtual ID is essentially a clone of the Aadhaar card containing only certain basic information. Only some basic details of the user, such as name, address, and photo, will be shared through this Virtual ID. This Virtual ID can only be generated by the cardholder themselves, through the UIDAI website, the Aadhaar app, or an Aadhaar center.
Please note that this ID can be generated more than once, but it will only be valid for a limited time, and the old code will become invalid as soon as a new one is generated. Another special feature is that it cannot be copied or duplicated, according to its creators.
A statement issued by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) says that many questions have recently been raised regarding the security of Aadhaar-related data. Keeping this in mind, some changes are being made to the Aadhaar system to make it more robust, which are expected to prove effective in the future. According to a report, Aadhaar cards have already been issued to approximately 119 crore people in our country.
Moreover, the Aadhaar card is being made mandatory for identification purposes in almost all places, from schools and banks to phone companies and employment services. The facility to generate a Virtual ID will begin on March 1st, and from June 1st, the use of Virtual ID will be made compulsory in all institutions instead of the Aadhaar card.
Some HIGHLIGHTS of the Virtual ID
- This Virtual ID from UIDAI will make it easier for approximately 119 crore Aadhaar holders to generate this 16-digit temporary number.
- This temporary number can be easily and securely shared with your bank, insurance company, or telecom service provider instead of your Aadhaar card number.
- Officials say that using this Virtual ID, it is impossible for anyone to find another citizen’s Aadhaar number. This makes the use of the Virtual ID even safer for Aadhaar card holders.
Some Safety Features of Virtual ID
If we talk about some other safety features of Virtual ID, the limited sharing of information is a key aspect, which aims to prevent the misuse of data contained in the Aadhaar card. This is important because this data is often stolen in various places.
In the current system, five pieces of information were shared with the service provider during authentication: name, date of birth, photo, address, and mobile number. However, according to the new system, only the information that is necessary at that particular time will be shared.
For example, if you need to get a new mobile connection, you will only share the necessary information with your service provider, such as your name, photo, and address. This will prevent the misuse of your data.
Why was the Virtual ID introduced?
The question now arises: why was this Virtual ID introduced? The simple answer is to make the Aadhaar card more secure.
Recently, there were several incidents of Aadhaar card details being leaked. The government has now taken notice of these incidents.
Therefore, amidst the concerns raised about the security of the Aadhaar card, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has taken a significant step to further strengthen its security. In this direction, UIDAI has introduced a new concept called ‘Virtual ID’.
Now, citizens of our country will no longer be required to provide their Aadhaar number to avail themselves of various government services. Aadhaar card holders can now generate a 16-digit Virtual ID from the UIDAI website, which they can use at various places such as banks, government offices, for government schemes, schools, colleges, and for SIM verification.
In simpler terms, we will no longer need to provide our 12-digit Aadhaar number.
When will the Virtual ID feature be implemented?
According to UIDAI, the Virtual ID will be introduced on March 1, 2018, and will be fully functional and mandatory from June 1, 2018.
How Safe is the Virtual Aadhaar ID?
Users can generate a Virtual ID as many times as they want. This ID will only be valid for a limited time, and the first ID will become invalid as soon as a new one is generated.
According to UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), this will be a limited KYC (Know Your Customer) process. Relevant agencies will not have access to Aadhaar details. These agencies will be able to complete all transactions based solely on the Aadhaar Virtual ID. Under the system introduced by UIDAI, users can generate a virtual ID as many times as they wish, but this ID will only be valid for a limited period.
The limited KYC facility is not for Aadhaar users, but for the agencies. Agencies typically collect and store your Aadhaar details for KYC purposes. With the limited KYC facility, agencies will no longer be able to store your Aadhaar number.
This facility will allow agencies to conduct their own KYC without relying on your Aadhaar number. Agencies will identify users through tokens. With less need for Aadhaar for KYC, the number of agencies holding your Aadhaar details will decrease. This will prevent the misuse of people’s Aadhaar details.
Agencies will be divided into two categories.
UIDAI will divide all agencies into two categories: local and global. Only global agencies will have access to eKYC with Aadhaar numbers. On the other hand, local agencies will have access to limited KYC facilities.
What the Creators of Aadhar Virtual ID Have to Say
Former UIDAI chief Nandan Nilekani tweeted on Wednesday that Aadhar is here to stay. He expressed his delight that UIDAI has introduced measures like Virtual ID and Limited KYC to make Aadhar card information even more secure and safe.
UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey stated that this is a historic step in safeguarding the Aadhar cards of our 119 crore citizens. He called it a unique innovation, unparalleled globally, that will further enhance the security of Aadhar.
An official said that agencies are being given ample time to update their software with this new technology so that people can easily use this new option.
He also added that departments should inform them about the data they require so that it can be shared with them, enabling them to perform their work efficiently, and protocols will be developed accordingly.
What is the Future of Aadhar Card Virtual ID?
The Virtual ID has been introduced by UIDAI to prevent the misuse of Aadhar card data. Now, people don’t need to share their Aadhar card number; instead, they can use the Virtual ID. This will keep their data safe.
The concept of Virtual ID is relatively new, and its success remains to be seen. While it seems promising, its true test will be its ability to effectively safeguard the details of our 119 crore citizens.
If the government continues to implement such new security measures periodically, then important documents like the Aadhar card can be protected from hackers to a great extent.
What You Learned Today
I sincerely hope that I have provided you with complete information about what Aadhar Virtual ID is, and I hope you have understood the concept of Virtual ID. My constant endeavor has always been to help my readers in every possible way. If you have any doubts whatsoever, please feel free to ask me.
I will definitely try my best to resolve those doubts. Please let us know what you thought of this article on Virtual Aadhaar ID in Hindi by leaving a comment, so that we can learn from your feedback and make improvements.