What is a Masked Aadhaar Card?

The Aadhaar card, issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), stands as one of India's most crucial identity documents. Addressing data privacy concerns, UIDAI introduced the masked Aadhaar—a safer, more secure version of the card. This innovative solution hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number, displaying only the last four, thereby minimizing the risk of misuse while still serving as valid identity proof. It's an excellent tool for enhancing security when sharing documents online, offering a fantastic alternative for non-government use cases.

Key Features of Masked Aadhaar

Masked Aadhaar offers better privacy by covering the first eight digits of the Aadhaar number with "XXXX-XXXX", displaying only the last four digits. It includes a secure QR code for identity verification without disclosing personal information, ensuring authenticity and limited information disclosure. Your name, address, and photograph remain visible, safeguarding sensitive data.

How to Download Masked Aadhaar

Downloading a masked Aadhaar card adds an extra layer of security by hiding the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number. This process involves visiting the UIDAI website, navigating to the 'Download Aadhaar' section, entering your details, selecting 'masked Aadhaar', requesting an OTP, verifying the OTP, and downloading the PDF. The downloaded PDF is password-protected, ensuring your information's safety.

Masked Aadhaar vs. Regular Aadhaar

While regular Aadhaar displays the full 12-digit number and is used for official identification, masked Aadhaar shows only the last four digits, offering better privacy and security. It's ideal for situations where identity proof is needed without sharing the full Aadhaar number.

Using Masked Aadhaar

Masked Aadhaar can be used as proof of identity for non-governmental services, QR code verification, digital submission for online services, and offline verification. It's a safer alternative to the original Aadhaar card for sharing your identity without exposing sensitive information.

Legitimacy and Benefits

Masked Aadhaar is legally valid and recognized by most organizations for identity verification. It reduces fraud, ensures data privacy, and is widely accepted, making it a convenient and secure option for identity proof.