The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is preparing a major update to the Aadhaar card format. According to PTI, the new version may show only the cardholder’s photograph and a QR code. This means key details like the person’s name, address, and even the 12-digit Aadhaar number may be removed from the physical card.
New Aadhaar Card May Display Only Photo and QR Code
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar shared during an online conference that the authority plans to introduce these new rules in December 2025. The main purpose of this redesign is to protect citizens’ data and prevent misuse. It will also help stop hotels, event organisers, and other establishments from demanding offline Aadhaar verification, which often leads to privacy concerns.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar explained the thinking behind the change, “There is a thought process as to why there should be any detail on the card. It should be only a photo and a QR code. If we keep printing, then people will keep accepting what is printed. People who know how to misuse it will keep misusing it.”
This move also follows the Aadhaar Act, which bans organizations from collecting, using, or storing Aadhaar numbers or biometrics for offline verification. But in practice, many places still ask for photocopies of Aadhaar cards, putting users at risk of fraud and identity theft.
Aadhaar Act Rules and Ongoing Privacy Violations
The updated Aadhaar card would keep all important information inside the QR code, which can be accessed only through authorised verification methods. This way, no personal details are visible on the card itself. “Aadhaar should never be used as a document. It should only be authenticated with the Aadhaar number or verified using a QR code. Otherwise, it can be a fake document,” he further added.
A new Aadhaar app will soon be launched to support digital verification. The UIDAI will review the proposed rule change on December 1, 2025. This new app will replace the current mAadhaar app and will allow verification through a QR code along with facial recognition. Users will be able to share only the information they choose, helping protect their privacy.
The app will be useful in many everyday situations like entering events, checking into hotels, proving age for certain purchases, and entering residential societies. It will work much like the DigiYatra system used at airports.
