Indian govt introduces new Aadhaar app with Face ID authentication; now no need to carry a physical card

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has begun testing a new Aadhaar mobile application that lets people prove who they are by scanning a QR code and showing their face to their phone's camera, ending the need to hand over photocopies of the Aadhaar card at hotel desks, airport counters or shops.

Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the beta version at the Aadhaar Samvaad conference in New Delhi, calling it a step that will make identity checks “as simple as a UPI payment.”

2/ Aadhaar verification becomes as simple as making UPI payment.
Users can now digitally verify and share their Aadhaar details while ensuring their privacy.

📲 Simply scan a QR code or use a requesting application. pic.twitter.com/1gORSLeVMY

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 8, 2025

How the app works

The new app, which is yet to be publicly released, opens with a cleaner interface. When a business or government office needs to verify a customer, it will display a QR code.

The Aadhaar holder scans that code with the app, chooses what information to share and then completes a quick face‑recognition scan—no physical card, no printouts. UIDAI says the data moves only with the user’s consent, giving people more control over their personal details.

3/ With the new Aadhaar app, users no longer need to get their Aadhaar scanned or photocopied.
❌ No more scanned & printed copies pic.twitter.com/kAaP3vp3cQ

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 8, 2025

According to reports, facial recognition happens entirely within the Aadhaar system, adding another biometric layer on top of fingerprints and one‑time passcodes. 

Limited rollout for now

The app is currently available only to participants of the Aadhaar Samvaad event and a small group of early adopters. UIDAI plans a wider launch after it studies user feedback and fine‑tunes the software.

For everyday Aadhaar holders, that means digital check‑ins at hotels, smoother KYC at banks and faster boarding at airports could soon become routine.

4/ No need to hand over Aadhaar photocopy at hotel receptions, shops or during travel. The Aadhaar App is secure and shareable only with the user's consent.
✅100% digital & secure pic.twitter.com/mrbY8M88CB

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) April 8, 2025

Building on existing tools

A separate app, AadhaarFaceRD, has provided face authentication for some months, but it could be triggered only by service providers during a KYC session.

The new application brings the feature directly to citizens' phones, giving them the option to start the process themselves and share only the data required for each transaction. UIDAI aims to cut paperwork, curb identity fraud and make digital public infrastructure more user‑friendly.

With testing underway, officials did not give a firm release date, but Vaishnaw said the nationwide rollout would follow “soon” after the beta phase.