(Image source from: Indiatvnews.com)
A high-ranking government representative has stated that a new guideline aimed at stopping hotels, event planners, and similar organizations from gathering and keeping physical photocopies of Aadhaar cards will be introduced soon. Retaining these photocopies goes against the current Aadhaar Act. UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar mentioned that the organization has approved a new plan that requires businesses doing Aadhaar-based checks — such as hotels and event planners — to sign up with the system and access a new verification method. Kumar noted that this system will allow checks by scanning QR codes or using a new Aadhaar mobile app that is still in development.
"The new guideline has been given the green light by the authority and will be announced shortly. It will require registration for offline verification-seeking organizations like hotels and event planners. The aim is to reduce the use of paper for Aadhaar verification," Kumar explained. The improved verification method is also expected to tackle issues arising from problems in intermediary servers that connect requests to the main Aadhaar database. Businesses needing offline verification will be given access to an API, which will let them integrate the verification system into their applications.
UIDAI is currently testing a new application that will allow app-to-app verification without needing to connect to the main server for each transaction. This solution can be applied in different places, such as airports and stores that sell items restricted by age. Kumar stressed that the revised verification system will improve privacy protection and eliminate risks linked to handling Aadhaar on paper. "The convenience of verification will improve offline checks without using paper while ensuring the privacy of users and reducing the risk of their Aadhaar information being leaked for inappropriate uses," he stated. The app will comply with the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which is set to be fully implemented within 18 months. Users will be able to upload new address proof documents and include family members who do not have mobile phones using the same app.
