THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 5, 2026

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has onboarded 300 Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) since the launch of the Aadhaar App in January, marking a significant expansion of the country's Aadhaar-based offline verification ecosystem.

The growing network of entities is expected to accelerate the adoption of secure, consent-based and paperless identity verification across sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, education, events, the gig economy and consumer-facing services.

The onboarding reflects increasing confidence among service providers in Aadhaar-enabled, privacy-first digital verification mechanisms that prioritise user consent, data minimisation and ease of access, in line with the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

The initiative also strengthens the institutional framework for offline Aadhaar verification, enabling organisations to authenticate individuals without relying on physical documents while giving residents greater control over their personal information.

Meanwhile, the Aadhaar App has registered nearly 7.5 crore downloads, underlining its growing popularity as a digital interface between UIDAI and Aadhaar number holders for accessing a range of identity-related services through smartphones.

The app has facilitated more than 86 lakh mobile number updates, 22.16 lakh address updates and 40.25 lakh email updates, allowing residents to modify their details conveniently without having to visit Aadhaar centres.

Its security features have also witnessed significant adoption, with biometric lock and unlock transactions crossing 4.6 crore. Additionally, 3.61 lakh Aadhaar lock and unlock transactions have been recorded through the app.

The biometric and Aadhaar locking facilities provide an additional layer of privacy and security, enabling residents to exercise greater control over the use of their Aadhaar credentials and biometric information.

The expansion of the OVSE network, coupled with the increasing uptake of the Aadhaar App, is aimed at making digital identity verification more accessible, efficient and secure for both individuals and service providers.

The developments are aligned with the government's Digital India initiative and its broader vision of improving ease of living through secure, accessible and technology-driven public services as the country moves towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.