UIDAI onboards 300 offline verification seeking entities

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) The Unique Identification Authority of India has onboarded 300 'offline verification-seeking entities', which is expected to reduce the collection of physical Aadhaar copies as ID proof.

    The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said the move marks a significant step towards expanding the use of Aadhaar-based offline verification across sectors ranging from hotels, hospitality, healthcare, education, events, gig economy, and consumer-facing players.

    "Complementing the growing adoption of the Aadhaar App among residents, UIDAI has onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs), since its rollout in January," UIDAI said in a statement.

    Several entities keep a photocopy of Aadhaar in their record as proof of verification, which is not permitted under the Aadhaar Act.

    UIDAI said that the milestone marks a major advancement in enabling secure, consent-based, and paperless verification through Aadhaar offline verification mechanism -- empowering both service providers and residents, alike.

    "The onboarding of these OVSE partners reflects growing confidence in Aadhaar-enabled, privacy-first digital verification frameworks that prioritise user control while ensuring ease of access and data minimisation in alignment with the provisions of the DPDP Act," the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)