India has introduced updated features and offline verification options to the Aadhaar system, sparking debates over privacy, consent, and database management.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced these advancements in late January 2026. The revised Aadhaar application allows users to provide selective information, like age verification without revealing the full date of birth, for various services including accommodations, workplaces, and financial platforms. The earlier mAadhaar app remains available.

UIDAI is also working on integrating Aadhaar with mobile payment systems, currently discussing support from Google Wallet while Samsung Wallet already has a connection.

Enhanced Offline Verification

The new offline verification mechanism lets individuals confirm their identity without constant checks against the central database. The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch was among the first to implement this system for hotel guest monitoring using PATHIK.

UIDAI views the app as a digital ID card for networking and business interactions, allowing users to share chosen personal details through QR codes. They claim that this method reduces reliance on physical copies of identification documents by ensuring data sharing with consent.

The app was tested prior to its official release in January 2026. The number of combined monthly installs for Aadhaar-related applications increased from about two million in October 2025 to nearly nine million by December 2025, according to Appfigures data.

National-Scale System

Aadhaar has issued over 1.4 billion identity numbers and processes approximately 2.5 billion authentication requests monthly since its launch. It also handles numerous electronic customer due diligence checks.

The expansion of offline verification capabilities is aligned with recent regulations allowing certain public and private entities to verify Aadhaar data without direct access to the central database, aiming to mitigate risks linked to physical copies and screenshots of ID documents that have been poorly regulated in the past.

Privacy Concerns

Critics argue that these legal modifications do not fully address underlying security issues. Raman Jit Singh Chima, senior international counsel and Asia Pacific policy director at Access Now, raised concerns about the timing of this roll-out, suggesting a wait for the establishment of India’s Data Protection Board.

Prasanth Sugathan, legal director at SFLC.in, pointed out that while UIDAI promotes user empowerment through the app, it does not tackle recurring database inaccuracies or security breaches that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. He referenced a 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General which highlighted that UIDAI had failed to meet certain compliance criteria.