Key takeaways
A masked Aadhaar is an electronic version of Aadhaar that hides the first eight digits of your 12-digit Aadhaar number and displays only the last four digits. You can download it through the official UIDAI portal using OTP authentication.
- Masked Aadhaar number: Only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number are visible.
- Privacy: It limits exposure of your complete Aadhaar number when sharing the document.
- Download: You can download masked Aadhaar online through the UIDAI My Aadhaar portal.
- OTP requirement: A mobile number registered with Aadhaar is required for OTP-based authentication during the download process.
- Secure QR code: The document includes a secure QR code that can support Aadhaar verification through authorised UIDAI tools.
- Acceptance: Whether masked Aadhaar is sufficient depends on the requirements of the organisation or service.
- Password: The downloaded e-Aadhaar PDF is password-protected, with the password based on your name and year of birth.
Knowing when masked Aadhaar is accepted can help you share your identity information while limiting unnecessary exposure of your complete Aadhaar number.
A masked Aadhaar is a version of your Aadhaar in which the first eight digits of the 12-digit Aadhaar number are replaced with ‘XXXX-XXXX’, leaving only the last four digits visible. You can download a masked Aadhaar through the official UIDAI website using your registered mobile number for OTP authentication.
What is masked Aadhaar?
A masked Aadhaar is an electronic version of Aadhaar that hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number and displays only the last four digits. It is designed to limit unnecessary sharing of your complete Aadhaar number.
Like e-Aadhaar, the downloaded document includes a secure QR code that can be used to verify the information on the document through UIDAI-approved methods.
Masked Aadhaar is different from a Virtual ID (VID). A VID is a 16-digit temporary number that can be used instead of your Aadhaar number for authentication or e-KYC where supported.
| Feature | Masked Aadhaar | Regular e-Aadhaar |
|---|
| Aadhaar number | First eight digits are masked; last four are visible | Complete 12-digit number is visible |
| Personal details | Available as shown on the document | Available as shown on the document |
| Secure QR code | Available | Available |
| Privacy | Reduces exposure of the complete Aadhaar number | Displays the complete Aadhaar number |
Why should you use a masked Aadhaar?
Masked Aadhaar can help reduce the need to share your complete Aadhaar number when full Aadhaar details are not required.
- Privacy: Only the last four digits of your Aadhaar number are displayed.
- Reduced exposure: You can avoid unnecessarily sharing your complete Aadhaar number.
- Digital access: You can download the document online through UIDAI.
- Verification: The secure QR code on e-Aadhaar can be used for offline verification through authorised UIDAI tools.
When can you use a masked Aadhaar?
You can consider using masked Aadhaar when an organisation accepts it for the specific identity-verification purpose. Whether it is sufficient depends on the service provider and the type of verification required.
For example:
- Identity verification: It may be accepted where the organisation does not require the complete Aadhaar number.
- Offline verification: The secure QR code can be used to verify Aadhaar information through authorised UIDAI tools.
- KYC: Acceptance depends on the KYC process and the requirements of the concerned entity.
- Digital services: It can be useful where only identity information is required and the complete Aadhaar number is not necessary.
Do not assume that masked Aadhaar will be sufficient for every service. Check the specific requirements of the organisation before submitting it.
Is masked Aadhaar valid everywhere?
No. Masked Aadhaar should not be described as being valid for every service or verification process. Its acceptance depends on the requirements of the organisation and the type of authentication or verification involved.
For offline verification, Aadhaar regulations require the digital signature in the secure QR code to be verified when Aadhaar is accepted as proof of identity without authentication.
Some services may require the complete Aadhaar number or Aadhaar-based authentication. In such cases, masked Aadhaar may not meet the requirement.
| Scenario | Can masked Aadhaar be used? | What to check |
|---|
| Identity verification | May be accepted | Whether the organisation accepts masked Aadhaar |
| Offline QR-code verification | Yes, where the applicable UIDAI verification process is supported | Secure QR-code verification |
| KYC | Depends | Requirements of the bank, financial institution or other entity |
| Government benefits | Depends on the scheme and authentication requirement | Scheme-specific requirements |
| Services requiring full Aadhaar number | No | Submit the document or information specifically requested |
What are the features of masked Aadhaar?
The key features of masked Aadhaar include:
- Masked Aadhaar number: The first eight digits are replaced with ‘XXXX-XXXX’, while the last four remain visible.
- Digital format: You can download e-Aadhaar as a password-protected PDF.
- Secure QR code: The QR code can be used for verification through UIDAI-approved tools.
- OTP-based access: A registered mobile number is required for OTP authentication when downloading masked Aadhaar through UIDAI.
- Privacy-focused: It limits exposure of your complete Aadhaar number.
How to download masked Aadhaar Card?
UIDAI currently provides a dedicated option to download a masked Aadhaar. The process requires OTP authentication through your registered mobile number.
Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website and open the My Aadhaar section.
Step 2: Select the option to Download Masked Aadhaar.
Step 3: Enter the required Aadhaar details and complete the captcha, where applicable.
Step 4: Request the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
Step 5: Enter the OTP to complete verification.
Step 6: Download the masked Aadhaar PDF.
UIDAI's current online services specifically list Download Masked Aadhaar as a service and state that mobile OTP is required.
How to download masked Aadhaar from UIDAI?
You can download masked Aadhaar directly through UIDAI's My Aadhaar services. The current UIDAI portal provides a dedicated Download Masked Aadhaar option.
You need access to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar to receive the OTP required for authentication. After successful verification, you can download the masked Aadhaar PDF.
Can you download masked Aadhaar from DigiLocker?
The UIDAI sources reviewed for this article provide a dedicated masked-Aadhaar download service through My Aadhaar. They do not establish the specific DigiLocker workflow described above.
Therefore, avoid publishing step-by-step instructions claiming that users can specifically download a masked Aadhaar from DigiLocker unless the current DigiLocker service confirms that option.
What is the masked Aadhaar password format?
The downloaded e-Aadhaar PDF is password-protected. UIDAI states that the password consists of the first four letters of your name in capital letters followed by your year of birth in YYYY format.
Example: If your name is Vishal Singh and your year of birth is 1982, the password would be VISH1982.
For names containing fewer than four letters, UIDAI's examples show that the available letters are used before adding the year of birth.
Key differences between masked and regular Aadhaar Cards
| Feature | Masked Aadhaar Card | Regular e-Aadhaar |
|---|
| Aadhaar number visibility | Only the last four digits are visible | Complete 12-digit Aadhaar number is visible |
| Digital format | Available as downloadable e-Aadhaar | Available as downloadable e-Aadhaar |
| Secure QR code | Available | Available |
| Privacy | Complete Aadhaar number is not displayed | Complete Aadhaar number is displayed |
| Use | Depends on the requirements of the service or organisation | Depends on the requirements of the service or organisation |
Can masked Aadhaar be used as an identification document?
A masked Aadhaar can be used for identity verification where the receiving organisation accepts it for the relevant purpose. The document retains the Aadhaar information needed for applicable verification while displaying only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number.
UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar is a legally valid document and can be used in the same way as the Aadhaar letter. Its secure QR code can also be used to verify the document's authenticity.
However, acceptance of masked Aadhaar depends on the requirements of the particular service or organisation. If a process specifically requires the complete Aadhaar number or Aadhaar-based authentication, a masked Aadhaar may not be sufficient.
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