The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) recently issued a statement advising citizens to use a masked copy of their Aadhaar cards to protect sensitive information from organisations that might misuse it, despite the fact that it is one of the most commonly used identification documents for KYC verification in India. Therefore, you have come to the right spot if you want to learn what a masked Aadhaar card is and how to download your own masked card. To learn more, see the details below.
Masked Aadhaar Card: Explained (2022)
What is a Masked Aadhaar Card?
An Aadhaar card that has been partially obscured to preserve your privacy is substantially identical to a conventional downloaded e-Aadhaar card.
Your unique Aadhaar number’s first eight digits are obscured and denoted with an x. Only the final four digits of your Aadhaar number are visible on the mask Aadhaar card.
Is Masked Aadhaar Card Valid and Should I Use It?
However, it is important to note that no additional data will be concealed on this unique Aadhaar card but the first 8 digits of your Aadhaar number. Therefore, the digital version of your mask Aadhaar card will still show your photo, DOB, address, and other information.
A disguised Aadhaar card can be used for KYC and eKYC verifications and is just as valid as a regular Aadhaar card, to speak of. It is significant to remember that the data shown on a masked Aadhaar card is identical to that shown on a standard Aadhaar card, with the exception of the initial 8 digits. And in the majority of circumstances, businesses simply need a customer’s name, address, and date of birth for KYC verification, not their Aadhaar number.
How to Download Your Masked Aadhaar Card
Therefore, if you’re unsure if you can utilise a disguised Aadhaar card for your upcoming KYC/e-KYC verifications, you can absolutely do so. In order to protect your privacy and stop unauthorised use of your Aadhaar number, we actually advise you to exclusively use the masked Aadhaar card moving forward.
Download Masked Aadhaar Card Using myAadhaar Website
- Open the myAadhaar website on your laptop or desktop using your desired web browser.
- Click the Login button to log into your Aadhaar account using your Aadhaar number and an OTP that you will receive on your registered mobile number.
- On your myAadhaar Dashboard, click the Download Aadhaar option to initiate the download process.
- Now, on the preview page, you will see a faded-out Do you want a masked Aadhaar? option at the top. Select the checkmark to download a masked Aadhaar card.
- Now, click the Download button at the bottom to get your masked Aadhaar card.
There are a few simple ways to obtain your camouflaged Aadhaar card, which brings us to the topic of how to do it. Follow the instructions below to download your masked Aadhaar card via the MyAadhaar website and mobile app:
Download Masked Aadhaar Card Using mAadhaar App
- Download the mAadhaar app (Free, Android and iOS) on your smartphone. Then, log into the app with your phone number.
- On the dashboard, tap the Download Aadhaar option under the All Services section.
- Next, tap and select the Masked Aadhaar option on the Select your Preference page.
- Now, on the next page, you can either provide your Aadhaar Number, Virtual ID (ID) Number, or an Enrolment ID Number to start the download process.
The password-protected PDF file with the disguised Aadhaar card will be downloaded.
- After you provide the required details, you will receive an e-copy of your masked Aadhaar card. You can download it as a PDF file and save it on your device s local storage. The password for the downloaded file will be the first four digits of your name and your birth year, the same as explained above.
Get Masked Digital Aadhaar Card for Greater Privacy
You can get to it by typing the first four letters of your legal name (in all capital letters) and the year of your legal DOB’s birth. You can view a screenshot of my Aadhaar card with my mask affixed directly below. The Aadhaar number is significant in this situation, even though I have disguised some of the sensitive data. In this digital format, the Aadhaar number simply displays the final four digits.