Is e-Aadhaar VALID like a physical copy of Aadhaar? Know what UIDAI says

Aadhaar is one of the most important documents for proving one's identity. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) issues a verifiable 12-digit number to every Indian resident. 

People also use e-Aadhaar instead of physical copy of Aadhaar in order to avoid physical contact amid the Covid-19 pandemic. It can be noted that e-Aadhaar is a password protected electronic copy of Aadhaar, which is digitally signed by the competent Authority of UIDAI.

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You may think if e-Aadhaar is equally valid like the physical copy of Aadhaar or not? As per the information provided on the UIDAI website, uidai.gov.in, according to the Aadhaar Act, e-Aadhaar is equally valid like a physical copy of Aadhaar.

According to the circular released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on the validity of e-Aadhaar as a proof of identity, "An Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form subject to authentication and other conditions, as may be specified by regulations, may be accepted as proof of identity of the Aadhaar number holder for any purpose."

It can be noted that the downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) carries the name, address, gender, photo and date of birth details of the Aadhaar holder in similar form as in printed Aadhaar letter.

The downloaded Aadhaar also contains the date of Aadhaar generation and date of Aadhaar download. The downloaded Aadhaar, that is, the e-Aadhaar is a digitally signed document by UIDAI as per IT Act, 2000 which provides for legal recognition of electronic records with digital signatures.

For more information and updates, one can login to the official website of UIDAI at uidai.gov.in.