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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

whenever authentication or KYC
services are performed.
Authentication may be performed
using the Virtual ID in a manner
similar to using Aadhaar number,”
a UIDAI circular said.
UIDAI Introdues ‘Virtual ID’ KEEPING THE SA NCTITY OF
AADHAAR INTACT
to Address Privacy Concerns The move aims to strengthen the
privacy and security of Aadhaar
data and comes amid heightened
concerns around the collection and
As many as 119 crore biometric identifiers have been issued so far and Aadhaar
storage of personal and
is required as an identity proof of residents by various government and non-
demographic data of individuals.
government entities —By Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee
Users can go to the UIDAI website
to generate their virtual ID which
In a bid to address privacy March 1, 2018. From June 1, 2018 will be valid for a defined period of
concerns, the UIDAI has introduced it will be compulsory for all time, or till the user decides to
a new concept of ‘Virtual ID’ which agencies that undertake change it. They can give this Virtual
Aadhaar-card holder can generate authentication to accept the ID to service agencies along with
from its website and give for Virtual ID from their users. the fingerprint at the time of
various purposes, including SIM authentication. Since the system
verification, instead of sharing the generated Virtual ID will be
actual 12-digit biometric ID. In Brief mapped to an individual’s Aadhaar
THE INNOVATIVE IDEA OF A  In a bid to address privacy number itself at the back end, it
VIRTUAL ID concerns, the UIDAI has will do away with the need for the
This will give the users the option introduced a new concept of user to share Aadhaar number for
of not sharing their Aadhaar ‘Virtual ID’. authentication.
number at the time of It will also reduce the collection
 This will give the users the
authentication. The Virtual ID, option of not sharing their of Aadhaar numbers by various
which would be a random 16-digit Aadhaar number at the time agencies. As per the UIDAI,
number, together with biometrics of authentication. agencies that undertake
of the user would give any  Aadhaar number holder can authentication would not be
authorised agency like a mobile allowed to generate the Virtual ID
company, limited details like name, use Virtual ID in lieu of on behalf of Aadhaar holder. The
address and photograph, which are Aadhaar number whenever UIDAI is instructing all agencies
enough for any verification. Officials authentication or KYC using its authentication and eKYC
services are performed.
said a user can generate as many services to ensure Aadhaar holders
Virtual IDs as he or she wants. The  The move aims to strengthen can provide the 16-digit Virtual ID
older ID gets automatically the privacy and security of instead of Aadhaar number within
cancelled once a fresh one is Aadhaar data. their application. As many as 119
generated.  The Virtual ID will be a crore biometric identifiers have
The Unique Identification temporary and revocable been issued so far and Aadhaar is
Authority of India (UIDAI) has also 16 digit random number required as an identity proof of
introduced the concept of ‘limited mapped to a person’s residents by various government
KYC’ under which it will only Aadhaar number. and non-government entities. For
provide need-based or limited instance, the government has
details of a user to an authorised made it mandatory for verifying
agency that is providing a Agencies that do not migrate bank account and PAN to weed
particular service, say, a telco. The to the new system to offer this out black money and bring
Virtual ID will be a temporary and additional option to their users by unaccounted wealth to book. The
revocable 16 digit random number the stipulated deadline will face same for SIM has been mandated
mapped to a person’s Aadhaar financial disincentives. “Aadhaar to establish the identity of mobile
number and the Aadhaar-issuing number holder can use Virtual ID phone users.
body will start accepting it from in lieu of Aadhaar number (PTI Economic Service)

28 Competition Wizard March 2018