When you check into a hotel or enter a pub, you might need to prove who you are or how old you are. Aadhaar can be a useful document for this since it has your photo, address, email, and phone number. The staff doesn’t need to see your full Aadhaar number to verify your identity. In these cases, a masked Aadhaar can be handy because it hides the first eight digits of your number while still showing your address and other important details.
The “masked Aadhaar” option lets you hide part of your Aadhaar number in your downloaded e-Aadhaar. This means the first eight digits are replaced with “xxxx-xxxx,” and only the last four digits are shown, according to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on their website.
Where to use masked Aadhaar?
To keep your Aadhaar details safe, it’s important to know when to use a masked Aadhaar and when to provide the full Aadhaar number. According to UIDAI rules, only verified and licensed organisations can collect and keep your Aadhaar details for a specific purpose. Places like pubs, movie theatres, and hotels are not allowed to collect or store your Aadhaar. In these cases, you should use a masked Aadhaar. Hotels and pubs might ask for ID to check your age before serving things like alcohol. Since your date of birth is visible on a masked Aadhaar, you can use it to prove your age in these situations.
You can’t use a masked Aadhaar for KYC with a bank or insurance company. For example, if you’re opening a demat account and they need your Aadhaar number for verification, you have to provide the full Aadhaar number, not the masked one.
How to download masked Aadhaar?
Getting a masked Aadhaar is easy. Just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
Step 2: Enter your Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID, or virtual ID, complete the captcha, and then click the ‘Send OTP’ button
Step 3: A new button called ‘Do you want a masked Aadhaar?’ will appear on the same page. Click on that and then type in the OTP in the relevant box. Click ‘Verify and Download’ after that.
You can download your masked Aadhaar as a PDF file. To open the file, use a password that is your name in block letters followed by your birth year. The PDF will be digitally signed by UIDAI and will include a QR code that can be used to verify your Aadhaar.
