mAadhaar app for iOS coming soon: UIDAI CEO confirms

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) seems to be gearing up to launch the iOS version of mAadhaar app for iPhone owners. Currently, the app is available exclusively for Android users but that will seemingly change in the coming days. Well, this is good news for iPhone users as the app which is an electronic version of Aadhaar card will be on their smartphones and they can use it for various purposes. Besides, once the app becomes available users will no longer need to carry their physical Aadhaar card everywhere they go.

The news was announced by UIDAI's CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey. In a video posted on Twitter which seems to be a clip from AMA session also known as Data Privacy Day on January 28, he has said, "mAadhaar for iOS is going to be out soon." However, he has not given any specific time frame for the launch.

We will be keeping a close eye on the developments and as we get more information we will update you on the same. Meanwhile, mAadhaar is official mobile application developed by UIDAI to provide an interface to Aadhaar Number Holders to carry their demographic information viz. Name, Date of Birth, Gender and Address along with photograph as linked with their Aadhaar Number in smartphones.

The app comes with several unique features that let users download Aadhaar number profile on the go, secure their Aadhaar profile using a secure password, and share QR code and password protected eKYC data to retrieve accurate demographic information. The app also comes with other features like a biometric lock and TOTP or temporary OTP.

The firm has also added new security features like Face Authentication for Aadhaar profile using laptop and smartphone cameras as well as Virtual ID which will be a temporary, revocable 16 digit random number mapped with the Aadhaar number. The 16-digit number can be given to agencies for authentication. UDAI added these features amidst recent reports about Aadhaar data leak and privacy concerns raised by the owners.

Interestingly in a different scenario, BGR India's report notes that UIDAI CEO has also announced that smart chip for Aadhaar cards is not coming anytime soon. He was quoted as saying, "Aadhaar is a digital identity based on your biometric and also your mobile number which is linked to Aadhaar. It is not based on any smart card or chip. Because it is based on biometrics, therefore there is really no need for any chip or any smart card in Aadhaar."