What Is E-Aadhaar Service? Why Is E-Aadhaar Needed

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few years, you would know about the Indian government’s Aadhar program, which was launched back in September of 2010. Yes, it really has been that long, and recent data suggests that over 88% of the country’s total population is covered under the Aadhar program. 

Key Takeaways 

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).   
• All residents of India, irrespective of their age, gender, caste, or creed, can enrol under the Aadhaar program. 
• An E-Aadhar card is a digital version of your original Aadhaar card. 
• Like regular Aadhaar cards, E-Aadhaar cards are also valid across the country, excluding any exceptions. 
• E-Aadhar card downloads are available on UIDAI’s official website. 

While this figure is nothing short of commendable, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) continues to take measures to make Aadhar enrolment accessible for people – an excellent example of which are online services (also commonly referred to as E-services) like E-Aadhaar card download and the option to update your information through your smartphone or laptop. 

Better yet, all these E-services are completely free of charge and available round the clock throughout the year. So, if you need to update your current address, change your spouse’s name, or download a digital copy of your Aadhaar card, E-services have you covered. 

Also, we should probably tell you that it is best to update your Aadhar card ASAP, as even the slightest discrepancy can deem the 12-digit identification number invalid. Plus, after the new information has been incorporated, it typically takes a few days or weeks for you to receive the hard copy – and keeping this in mind is all the more crucial if you wish to avail government schemes. 

Now that we’ve given you a brief gist of E-Aadhaar services available in India, you might be wondering if you really need one. Well, we’re going to shed some light on that and also tell you the steps for E-Aadhaar card download in detail. 

So, let’s get started with everything there is to know about E-Aadhaar services. 

How to Download E-Aadhaar Card Online?

As you’ve probably guessed by now, an E-Aadhaar card can come in quite handy, be it during a visit to the bank or for verification at workplaces. But how can you download E-Aadhaar card online? 

While the most popular way to do so is through UIDAI’s self-service portal, you also have the option to visit a nearby enrolment centre. However, first, we will look at the steps for E-Aadhaar card download through UIDAI’s official website, which are: 

Step 1: 

The first step to download E-Aadhaar card is to visit UIDAI’s official website by entering the URL in your smartphone or laptop’s search engine.

 Step 2: 

Once you have the website open on your browser, click on ‘My Aadhaar’, after which a drop-down menu will be visible to you. Next, click on ‘Download Aadhaar’, listed under the ‘Get Aadhaar’ column. 

Step 3: 

After selecting ‘Download Aadhaar’, the website will redirect you to a fresh page, where you will find three options for E-Aadhaar card download. These include Enrolment ID (EID), Virtual ID (VID), and Aadhaar card download by Aadhaar number. 

Step 4: 

Now that you have selected your preferred option, the next step is to carefully enter your details, including your name, address, and pin-code. 

Step 5: 

Enter the security code displayed on the page and click on ‘Send OTP’. Alternatively, you can also enter a Time-Based OTP (TOPT) if you have one. 

Step 6: 

Once again, you will be redirected to a new page where you will have to enter the six-digit OTP sent to your mobile number, after which you have to click on ‘Download E-Aadhaar card’. 

That covers all the steps for E-Aadhaar card download through UIDAI’s online portal. You can either take a printout of the Aadhaar card download online PDF or save it as is on your device. However, since an Aadhaar card is password protected, do remember to note down the E-password, which will be displayed once the download is complete. 

Next, let’s look at how you can download an E-Aadhaar card by visiting an enrolment centre near you: 

Step 1: 

Visit an enrolment centre near you and look for an official to assist you. 

Step 2: 

Provide all your personal details, including the Enrolment ID (EID) or 12-digit Aadhaar number. 

Note: A Virtual ID (VID) will not be applicable in this case as you are not visiting the self-service portal. 

Step 3: 

Wait for the official to enter your details on their software. In case you do not remember your EID or Aadhaar number, the official can choose to verify your information through the biometrics provided during enrolment. 

Step 4: 

Once your information has been verified, the official will provide you with a copy of your Aadhar card download online PDF.  

Although visiting an enrolment centre is also a great way to download an E-Aadhaar card, you might be required to pay a minimal fee. Additionally, do remember to take extra copies of the E-Aadhaar card if you lose the original one. 

So, now that we’ve discussed the methods and steps for E-Aadhaar card download at length, it’s time to answer the question that’s been bugging most of you all along – do I really need one? 

Why Do You Need E-Aadhaar? 

If you’re still wondering if you really need an E-Aadhaar card, let us help you out. Here are a few reasons why downloading an E-Aadhaar card is beneficial: 

• As we discussed earlier, an E-Aadhaar card holds the same validity and importance as your regular Aadhaar card. You can easily use it as identification proof at airports, hotels, workplaces, etcetera, which has recently been stated in an official circular released by UIDAI. 

• Having an E-Aadhaar card is much more convenient, as you won’t have to carry around the physical copy everywhere you go. Instead, you can simply provide the Aadhaar card download online PDF as and when needed. 

• An E-Aadhaar card is valid not just in the state you reside in but across the entire country without any exceptions. 

• In case there are any errors in the information displayed on your Aadhaar card, you can quickly update your details through UIDAI’s self-service portal and download E-Aadhaar card. 

• The steps for online E-Aadhaar card download are pretty simple and straightforward, which is all the more reason to get yours ASAP. 

Did You Know?

A recent study published by the Statista Research Department stated that as of 2017, the number of Aadhaar cards generated for Indians above 18 years of age was 839 million. On the other hand, the number of Aadhaar cards generated for children below 5 years of age was 53 million, which points to the high penetration of the Indian government’s Aadhaar program. 

Source: Statista 

How Is it Different from Physical Aadhar Card? 

As we’ve mentioned previously, an E-Aadhaar card holds the same validity as a standard Aadhaar card. The E-Aadhaar is just an electronic or online copy of your Aadhaar card, and it includes the Unique Identification Authority of India/UIDAI’s digital signature instead of a physical one. 

Additionally, an E-Aadhaar card is password protected since you download the copy online. In short, there is no difference between the physical Aadhaar card and the digital version. So, we’d suggest that you head over to UIDAI’s self-service portal or visit a nearby enrolment centre and download your E-Aadhaar card today! 

Word to Remember 

Enrolment ID (EID) 

An enrolment ID or EID is a 14-digit number displayed on the acknowledgment slip received during enrolment. In addition to the 14-digit number, it also contains a 14-digit date and time (yyyy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss) – both of which together constitute your enrolment ID/EID. 

Conclusion 

While reading about E-Aadhaar cards isn’t necessarily fun, we hope we didn’t bore you and that you now know the benefits of downloading your E-Aadhaar card. E-Aadhaar cards are not just a convenient way to access your details, but they are also a key step towards Digital India. 

But before you visit UIDAI’s self-service portal, make sure you go through all the steps we mentioned for E-Aadhaar card download. Also, always remember to keep your Aadhaar card information password-protected and safe (even if it is a hard copy), as it can be easily misused. Thank us later! 

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