The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on January 10, 2023, issued a notification directing the verification entities to adhere to the Aadhaar usage hygiene. The Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs) shall comply with the following:
1. Entities need to be courteous to residents and assure them about the security and confidentiality of their Aadhaar while conducting offline verification
2. Entities must maintain the log/record of the explicit consent received from residents for any future audit by UIDAI or any other legal agency thereof.
3. OVSEs to verify Aadhaar via the QR Code present on all four forms of Aadhaar instead of accepting Aadhaar in physical or electronic form, as proof of identity.
4. Entities have been urged to ensure that no services are denied to any resident for refusing to or being unable to undergo offline verification of Aadhaar, provided the resident is able to identify themselves through other viable alternatives.
5. Verification entities, generally should not collect, use or store the Aadhaar number of the resident after having conducted offline verification of the Aadhaar, UIDAI has informed OVSEs.
6. In case of any misuse of information, verification entities need to inform UIDAI and the resident concern within 72 hours.
