Did you give your Aadhaar card to someone? Should you worry! Here’s what UIDAI says

Aadhaar card is a proof required to be furnished for availing various services. The Aadhaar number is verifiable in an online, cost-effective way. Further, the card is seen as a unique and robust medium to eliminate duplicates and fake identities. Not only that, with Aadhaar one can also protect their money-related transactions as well. In simple words, Aadhaar acts as a e-KYC for a citizen. However, there could be a situation where you applied for a service and gave your Aadhaar card to that service provider. Considering, just like PAN card even Aadhaar number is the proof of your identity, one may fear about its misuse from other end.

However, do not worry, even if you have given your Aadhaar card to someone else, they would still not be able to create any fraud against you. How? Here’s what UIDAI explains on its website!

According to UIDAI, just by knowing your Aadhaar number, no one can harm you. It’s just like any other identity document such as passport, voter ID, PAN card, ration card, driving license, etc., that you have been using freely for decades with service providers. Aadhaar identity, instead, is instantly verifiable and hence more trusted. 

Also, the Aadhaar Act 2016, highlights that, the Aadhaar card is required to be verified by fingerprint, iris scan, OTP authentication, and QR code. Hence, it is near impossible to impersonate you if you use Aadhaar to prove your identity.

UIDAI states that, people have been freely giving other identity documents such as passport, voter ID, PAN card, ration card, driving license, etc. But did they stop using these documents for the fear that somebody would use them to impersonate? No!  They continue using them and if any fraud happens, the law enforcement agencies handle them as per law. The same logic will apply to Aadhaar. 

Further, the Aadhaar Act, also comes with stringent penalties, including fines and imprisonment for those people who misuses your Aadhaar number or tries to cause any harm to you.

Hence, Aadhaar is more secure than many other identity documents, because unlike other IDs, Aadhaar is instantly verifiable through biometric and OTP authentication and QR code, UIDAI notes.