Is e-Aadhaar equally valid as physical Aadhaar card, how to download it, password of e-Aadhaar

An e-Aadhaar card is an electronic, password-protected copy of one's Aadhaar card. The e-Aadhaar card is digitally signed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

You can use this e-Aadhaar card as identity proof wherever required as it contains the same information as your physical Aadhaar card.

Also read: Last date to update Aadhaar for free extended again; check details


Here are some important FAQs on the e-Aadhaar card as per the UIDAI website.

Is e-Aadhaar equally valid as the physical copy of Aadhaar?

According to the UIDAI FAQs on the e-Aadhaar on its website, "As per Aadhaar Act, e-Aadhaar is equally valid like Physical Copy of Aadhaar for all purposes."

As per UIDAI's circular issued on April 28, 2017, "It is informed that downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) carries Name, Address, Gender, Photo and Date of Birth details of the Aadhaar holder in similar form as in Printed Aadhaar letter. The downloaded Aadhaar also contains date of Aadhaar generation and date of Aadhaar download. The downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) is a digitally signed document by UIDAI as per IT Act, 2000 which provides for legal recognition of electronic records with digital signatures. Downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) is, therefore, as legally valid proof of identity under Section 4(3) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 read together with Regulation 15 (1) of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, as printed version of Aadhaar Letter. It is, therefore, clarified that, Downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) is a valid and secure electronic document which should be treated at par with printed Aadhaar letter. Ministries/Departments/State Governments/agencies accepting printed Aadhaar as proof of identity are hereby required to accept downloaded Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) also as a proof of identity and not to discriminate it vis-a-vis printed Aadhaar."

What Is the Password of e-Aadhaar?

Combination of the first 4 letters of name in CAPITAL and the year of birth (YYYY) as password.

For Example:
Example 1
Name: SURESH KUMAR
Year of Birth: 1990
Password: SURE1990

Example 2
Name: SAI KUMAR
Year of Birth: 1990
Password: SAIK1990

Example 3
Name: P. KUMAR
Year of Birth: 1990
Password: P.KU1990

Example 4
Name: RIA
Year of Birth: 1990
Password: RIA1990

What software is needed to open e-Aadhaar?

Resident needs 'Adobe Reader' to view e-Aadhaar. You have 'Adobe Reader' installed in your System.

Also read: How to prevent misuse of Aadhaar card details, Govt shares tips

How to download e-Aadhaar?

Resident can download e-Aadhaar by following two ways.

• By Using Enrollment Number: Resident can download e-Aadhaar using 28 digit enrolment no. along with Full Name and Pin code. In this download process OTP is received on registered mobile no. Resident can also use TOTP to download e-Aadhaar instead of OTP. TOTP can generated using mAadhaar mobile Application.
• By Using Aadhaar No: Resident can download e-Aadhaar by using 12 digits Aadhaar No. along with Full Name and Pin code. In this download process OTP is received on registered mobile no. Resident can also use TOTP to download e-Aadhaar instead of OTP.TOTP can generated using mAadhaar mobile Application.

From where can one download e-Aadhaar?

Resident can download e-Aadhaar by visiting UIDAI websites - https://uidai.gov.in/ or by visiting https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in

How to validate digital signatures in e-Aadhaar?

• Computer must be connected to internet while validating digital signature.
• Right click on the 'validity unknown' icon and click on 'Validate Signature'
• You will get the signature validation status window, click on 'Signature Properties'.
• Click on 'Show Certificate.'
• Verify that there is a certification path named 'NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre'. This identifies 'NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre' as the owner of the digital certificate that has been used when signing the document.
• Mark the certification path named 'NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre', click the 'Trust' tab and then 'Add to Trusted Identities'.
• Answer 'OK' to any security question that follows.
• Check (?) the field for 'Use this certificate as a trusted root' and click 'OK' twice to close this and the next window.
• Click 'Validate Signature' to execute the validation.

Note: - Once 'NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre' has been as a Trusted Identity, any subsequent documents with digital signatures from CCA will be validated automatically when opened.