Speaking at the launch event, Ministry of Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the app supports age verification under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, addressing long-standing concerns around data privacy and oversharing.

To enable wider use, the government has amended the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, also known as the Swik Rules. The amendment allows private entities to use Aadhaar authentication on a secure basis for service delivery.

“We often debate how age verification should work within the DPDP Act. With the Aadhaar app, age gating can now happen seamlessly without oversharing data,” Mr. Krishnan said.

The age verification feature will help online platforms, including social media, online gaming, and e-commerce websites, restrict access to age-inappropriate content and products for children. Several firms are already developing solutions based on the app, some of which were demonstrated at the Aadhaar event.

The app, available for download on mobile app stores, enables digital identity verification for entities such as hotels, cinema halls, airports, and online service providers. It aims to reduce dependence on paper copies of Aadhaar, which are commonly used for identity checks.

UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the app also simplifies access to Aadhaar services. Users can now update their mobile number directly through the app, while the address update feature has also been integrated.

In addition, the app includes a digital contact card, allowing users to share contact details without using physical visiting cards. Aadhaar holders can also add up to five profiles, such as children or parents, on a single app. This feature helps families complete digital authentication even when some members do not have separate mobile numbers.

The Aadhaar Act strictly prohibits private entities from storing Aadhaar data, including photocopies, reinforcing the app’s privacy-first approach.

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