Launched in September 2010, the Aadhaar Card has become an essential document for the masses. The 12-digit unique identification number serves as a valid identity proof in financial transactions. You can authenticate your Aadhaar number to validate your identity. Moreover, you can also check the records of past authentications done through the Aadhaar Authentication History.
Aadhaar Authentication Meaning
In simple terms, Aadhaar authentication means verifying an Aadhaar number. If you or any other entity checks if the furnished Aadhaar number is genuine or not, it is called Aadhaar authentication. The Aadhaar Authentication service is offered by the the UIDAI for all the citizens of India.
Key Takeaways
In this article, you will learn –
- Aadhaar authentication can either be done by the aadhaar card holder themselves or the Authentication User Agency (AUA).
- Checking Aadhaar authentication history helps you stay updated with the authentications done in the past.
- Your Aadhaar authentication history will show a maximum of 50 records.
- You can flag unidentified authentications on your Aadhaar card by checking your Aadhaar authentication history, which helps you weed out the possibility of identity fraud.
Aadhaar Authentication Meaning in Hindi
“आधार प्रमाणीकरण” एक प्रक्रिया है, जिसके द्वारा आधार संख्या के साथ जनसांख्यिकीय (जैसे नाम, जन्म तिथि, लिंग आदि) या व्यक्ति की बायोमीट्रिक सूचना (फ़िंगरप्रिंट या आइरिस) जानकारी, इसके सत्यापन के लिए यूआईडीएआई के सेंट्रल आइडेंटिटीज़ डेटा रिपॉजि़टरी (सीआईडीआर) भेजी जाती है.
Learn The Basics
The Aadhaar number is issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to the residents of India. It is a randomly-generated, unique number allotted to each cardholder. The Aadhaar contains your biometric (fingerprints, photograph of your face, and iris scan) and demographic details (name, age, address, etc.).
Enrolling for Aadhaar is not mandatory as stated by Supreme Court of India. You might choose to apply for the card, and the service is entirely free of cost. The card serves as a valid proof of identity and proof of address. It can fulfil the KYC norms in different transactions. You can also link your Aadhaar number to your mobile number, bank account, Income Tax Returns (ITR), financial investments and the like. Linking Aadhaar to your bank account also makes you eligible to receive the LPG subsidy offered by the Government.
Who Can Do Aadhaar Authentication?
Two parties can do Aadhaar authentication –
- The Aadhaar cardholder themselves
- The Authentication User Agency (AUA.)
An AUA is an entity that provides Aadhaar-enabled services to cardholders using the authentication offered by Authentication Service Agency (ASA). For instance, if you provide your Aadhaar number to a bank when opening an account, the bank would verify your Aadhaar number. To confirm, the bank would send the number to an AUA with which it is tied up. The AUA requests the ASA to check the number against the number registered with the UIDAI’s CIDR (Central Identities Data Repository). If the number matches the registered number, the AUA authenticates your Aadhaar number and intimates the same to the bank. The bank, then, allows you to open the account.
Why is Aadhaar Authentication Required?
Wondering why Aadhaar authentication is required? Let’s make it easier for you. Imagine the time when you needed a long list of documents for address proof, driver’s license, proof of date of birth, passport, etc. With aadhaar authentication, you can cut down on paperwork.
In addition, the verification of information also becomes easy and quick. Since your biometric and demographic details are available centrally, verification becomes comparatively easier. Lastly, aadhaar authentication also helps individuals to benefit from certain schemes, such as subsidies.
Did You Know?
The AUA and ASA are two different entities. A Government, private or public legal agency can register with the UIDAI to act as an AUA, ASA or both. There is also an option to register as a KUA (e-KYC User Agency).
Usually, entities register as both AUA and ASA.
In India, there are about 305 live AUAs as of 31st August 2018.
What is Aadhaar Authentication History?
Aadhaar authentication history records all the authentications done on a particular Aadhaar number by the cardholder or by an AUA.
How to Check Aadhaar Authentication History Online?
You can check your Aadhaar authentication history for the last six months. It would show a maximum of 50 records.
As mentioned earlier, you can check the history of your Aadhaar authentication online through two options. These options and their respective processes are as follows –
Check your Aadhaar authentication history through the UIDAI website.
- Visit the UIDAI website at https://www.UIDAI.gov.in/.
- Under ‘My Aadhaar’, go to ‘Aadhaar Services’ and click on ‘Aadhaar Authentication History.’
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number or the Virtual ID number
- Type in the displayed security code and click on ‘Get OTP’
- The OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number.
- On the next page, choose the type of authentication whose history you want to see. This can include demographic, biometric or OTP-based authentication or a dual combination of these factors.
- Choose the date range for the period whose history you want to see, the number of records and the OTP received.
- Click on the ‘Verify OTP’ post, in which the history will be displayed.
Check Aadhaar authentication history through the mAadhaar app
- Download the mAadhaar app on your Smartphone and register your Aadhaar number
- Once registered, on the home screen, click on ‘My Aadhaar.’
- Enter the 4-digit PIN you created when registering the Aadhaar number
- On the ‘My Aadhaar’ page, click on ‘Auth History.’
- Enter the security captcha code and click on ‘Request OTP.’
- Next, choose the ‘Authentication type’, the start and end date, and the OTP received on the registered mobile number.
- Click on ‘Submit’, and the Aadhaar authentication history will be displayed.
You would get the Aadhaar authentication history pdf password report that can be accessed with a password. The password would be the first four letters of your name followed by your birth year in YYYY format.
Types of Aadhaar Authentications
The Aadhaar authentication modality can be either of the following –
| Aadhaar Biometric Authentication | Authentication is done through your iris scan or fingerprints. |
| Aadhaar Demographic Authentication | Authentication is done through your name, age, address, and other demographic details. |
| Aadhaar OTP Authentication | Authentication is done through an OTP sent to your registered mobile number. |
When you select the type of Aadhaar authentication history you want to see, the UIDAI displays the relevant history.
Word to Remember
Authentication modality is a common term that you might find in your Aadhaar authentication report. This means the mode or type of authentication that was done. So, if authentication modality states OTP-based, it means that the Aadhaar number was authenticated using the OTP sent to the registered mobile number.
Also Read: All About Aadhaar Password
Why Check Your Aadhaar Authentication History?
Checking your Aadhaar authentication history helps you stay updated and track the authentications done in the past. If there is an authentication error, you can check the errors to see if your Aadhaar is updated with all the latest demographic and biometric details or not. If not, you can update your card so that future authentications do not fail.
You can also flag unidentified authentications on your Aadhaar card when checking your Aadhaar authentication history. This helps you weed out the possibility of identity fraud.
Did You Know?
There are more than 50 possible error codes that might be displayed on your Aadhaar authentication report. You can check these codes against their meanings to know why the authentication was not successfully done.
Conclusion
With the online facility offered by the UIDAI, availing of Aadhaar services has become simple and quick. You can check your Aadhaar authentication history records and know how many times you or any other agency verified your Aadhaar number. For any discrepancy noticed in the Aadhaar authentication history, you can contact the UIDAI and get a look into unverified authentications. So, use the service offered by the UIDAI and check your Aadhaar authentication history at least once in six months.
Aadhaar Authentication History FAQs
You get the information about auth modality, the date and time of authentication, name of the AUA, UIDAI response code, AUA transaction ID, the response of authentication (success or failure) and error codes, if any, in the Aadhaar authentication history.
Yes, the authentication can fail. If it does, an error code would be displayed about the failure.
The Aadhaar authentication report contains the details of Aadhaar authentication history. The report includes a record of up to 50 authentications done within the last six months.
No, checking your Aadhaar authentication history is free of cost.
Yes, a password is required to open the Aadhaar authentication history PDF; a password is required. This password would be the first four letters of your name (in the capital) and your year of birth in YYYY format.
You can authenticate your aadhaar card through biometric authentication, OTP-based authentication or using your demographic details.
Yes, aadhaar authentication is compulsory for a certain group of individuals to become eligible for GST registration, including authorized signatory of all types, managing/authorized partners of a partnership firm and Karta of a Hindu Undivided Family.
If your aadhaar card is not authenticated yet, you can get the authentication done by contacting UIDAI.
Getting your aadhaar authenticated reduces the paperwork as verification of identity becomes quick and easy.
To check your Aadhaar validation status, you can go to the UIDAI website and enter the EID and captcha details. If your aadhaar is available, you will see a status message on the screen saying, ‘Your Aadhaar is generated.’ You can then download it.
Read more about ESign Aadhaar.
