Aadhaar Card Design Change Claims Are False: Government

The Union government on Sunday dismissed circulating reports suggesting that the Aadhaar card will undergo a design change this year, calling the claims incorrect and misleading.

In an official clarification issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology through the Press Information Bureau, authorities stated that there is no proposal to alter the current format of the Aadhaar card.

“There are intermittent news reports and social media posts explaining how Aadhaar’s look may change by the end of this year to just a photo and a QR code, alone. This is NOT CORRECT. There is no plan for any such changes,” the government said.

The ministry noted that such reports have been widely shared across media platforms and social media, leading to confusion among citizens. It added, “Such news reports and social media posts are creating unwanted confusion in the minds of the people.”

Advising caution, the government urged the public to rely only on verified and official sources for Aadhaar-related information. “People in general are advised to ignore such reports and social media posts, and refer to official communication from UIDAI through its official social media handles and press releases issued through PIB,” the release said. It also cautioned media organisations, stating that “Media is also advised not to encourage such information.”

Issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India, Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number linked to biometric and demographic data. Introduced in 2009, it has grown into one of the world’s largest digital identity systems, with over a billion residents enrolled.

The Aadhaar card currently includes key details such as the holder’s name, photograph, Aadhaar number, and a QR code that enables secure offline verification. The QR code contains digitally signed information to ensure authenticity during verification.

The clarification comes at a time when Aadhaar is widely used for accessing welfare benefits, financial services, and identity verification, making it crucial to counter misinformation surrounding the system.