Aadhaar card issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Government of India contains 12 digits unique identification number (UID) that is generated based on personal details, biometric data and demographic details specific to each individual in India. All Indian citizens are eligible to apply for aadhaar card. As soon as the aadhaar number is allotted, an individual’s details are stored in the government’s database. Aadhaar enrolment can be done at any authorised aadhaar enrolment centre or permanent enrolment centre, list of which is available on the official website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Once your enrolment for aadhaar card, enrolment number will be given for reference. Aadhaar card status can be checked using this enrolment number. Aadhaar card issuance takes more than 15 to 20 days and some more time to receive the aadhaar card at the mailing address. However, there has been a lot of improvement in the aadhaar system. Official website of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) offers you various options to download the e-aadhaar card upon receiving the confirmation message on the successful process of aadhaar card. Now, you can also check the aadhaar card status by name if you do not have an enrollment number. You can also download e-aadhaar cards using your name. Aadhaar card download by name is possible now with some easy and simple online processes
The process to download e-aadhaar card using the name
Aadhaar card download by name is a new development which helps you access your information online even with the help of your name. Following is the step-by-step process to download duplicate/e-aadhaar card using the name –
- The first step to aadhaar card download by name is to get the enrolment ID or aadhaar number (UID) using your name as provided in the aadhaar records
In case you have lost or forgotten your aadhaar number, you can follow below steps to retrieve the aadhaar number – - Log on to the official website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Click on ‘My aadhaar’ option available at the top left corner of the home page
- Under ‘My aadhaar’, click on ‘retrieve lost or forgotten EID/UID’ tab under ‘Get aadhaar’ option
- A new window will be opened which requires you to input certain details
- Select an option – Aadhaar number (UID) or Enrolment ID (EID)
- Once you select ‘aadhaar number (UID)’ to retrieve your lost/forgotten aadhaar number, you are required to provide below details –
- Your full name
- Your mobile number
- Your email address
- Click on ‘send OTP’ option after filling in captcha verification code.
- A one-time password will be sent to your aadhaar registered mobile number or on aadhaar registered email ID
- Access your one-time password and input in the relevant box. Then, click on ‘Verify OTP’
- Once your OTP (one-time-password) is verified, you will receive your aadhaar card number and enrolment number on your registered mobile number and also on your email ID
- Once you receive your aadhaar number (UID) and enrolment ID (EID), start with the second set of procedures to download the e-aadhaar card. Following are the steps for downloading e-aadhaar card –
- Go back to the home page of the official website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Click on ‘My aadhaar’ option available at the top left corner of the home page
- Under ‘My aadhaar’, click on ‘Download aadhaar’ tab under ‘Get aadhaar’ option
- Once the new window opens, select appropriate option (aadhaar number or enrolment ID) under ‘I have’ section
- If you select aadhaar number, you are required to input 12 digit aadhaar number (UID) which you have just retrieved on your email ID or mobile number using your name
- If you select enrolment ID (EID), you are required to enter 28 digit enrolment ID which you have just retrieved on your email ID or mobile number using your name
- Click on ‘send OTP’ option after filling in captcha verification code.
- A one-time password will be sent to your aadhaar registered mobile number or on aadhaar registered email ID
- Access your one-time password and input in the ‘Enter OTP’ box. Then, click on ‘Validate and Download’ button
- After the validation, you will be able to successfully download your e-aadhaar card in PDF format which is protected with a password
- Enter the password (as per the instructions given) when you open you e-aadhaar PDF document
- Now, you have your e-aadhaar card which can be printed out for reference
The process to download e-aadhaar card using enrolment ID
Apart from aadhaar card download by name, you can even download easily by using your enrolment ID provided with the enrolment slip. If you have the enrolment slip which was provided at the aadhaar enrolment centre at the time of placing an application for aadhaar card, you can follow below steps for obtaining the e-aadhaar card. E-aadhaar can be downloaded only after receiving the confirmation SMS saying your aadhaar enrolment process has been successfully completed. Following are the steps to follow for downloading e-aadhaar card using your enrolment ID –
- Log on to the official website of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Click on ‘My aadhaar’ option available at the top left corner of the home page
- Under ‘My aadhaar’, click on ‘Download aadhaar’ tab under ‘Get aadhaar’ option
- Once the new window opens, select the ‘enrolment ID’ option under ‘I have’ section
- Input your 14 digits ENO and 14 digit date-time stamp printed on the enrolment slip
- Click on ‘send OTP’ option after filling in captcha verification code.
- A one-time password will be sent to your aadhaar registered mobile number or on aadhaar registered email ID
- Access your one-time password and input in the ‘Enter OTP’ box. Then, click on ‘Validate and Download’ button
- After the validation, you will be able to successfully download your e-aadhaar card in PDF format which is protected with a password
- Enter the password (as per the instructions given) when you open your e-aadhaar PDF document
- Now, you have your e-aadhaar card which can be printed out for reference
Why should you download e-aadhaar cards online?
E-aadhaar is an electronic copy of your aadhaar card which is digitally signed by the competent authority of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Like physical copy, the e-aadhaar card is a digital copy containing all the same information such as aadhaar number, photograph, name, and gender, date of birth and communication address. Following are the benefits of the e-aadhaar card –
- E-aadhaar is anytime accessible as it is in digital form and there are no hassles of getting it misplaced
- E-aadhaar card can be used as identity proof and as well as proof of your address
- With the aadhaar number mentioned in the e-aadhaar card, all the details stored in the government database can be accessed
- E-aadhaar can be used for availing various benefits offered by government schemes and services.
FAQ’s
Your password to open a protected e-aadhaar PDF document would be a combination of the first four letters of your name in capital letters followed by the year of your birth. For example, your name is Sangeeta and you were born in the year 1985, your e-aadhaar password would be SANG1985.
Yes. As per the Aadhaar Act, e-aadhaar is equally valid like the physical copy of aadhaar. The UIDAI circular also states ‘’ downloaded aadhaar or e-aadhaar card is a valid and secure electronic document which should be treated at par with printed aadhaar letter’’. UIDAI circular can be referred for more details on this – https://uidai.gov.in/images/uidai_om_on_e_aadhaar_validity.pdf
While downloading an e-aadhaar card, you will have an option to choose masked aadhaar. Basically, this option of masked aadhaar allows you to download an e-aadhaar card that masks your aadhaar number. The masked aadhaar option displays only the last four digits of your aadhaar number and the first 8 digits of your aadhaar number will be masked. For example – XXXX –XXXX- 1234.
If you have already downloaded an e-aadhaar card, you can validate the digital signatures on the e-aadhaar card in a few simple steps. You must have an internet connection to complete the process. Following are the simple steps for validating the digital signatures on the e-aadhaar card –
- Right-click on the ‘validity unknown’ icon displayed in the e-aadhaar card and click on the ‘validate signature’ option
- A signature validation status window will open. Click on ‘signature properties’ option
- Click on ‘show certificate’
- Verify that there is a certification path named ‘NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre. This identifies ‘NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre’ as the owner of the electronic certificate that has been used while signing the document.
- Mark the certification path named ‘NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics Centre, click the ‘Trust’. Click on the ‘Trust’ tab and then click on ‘Add to trusted identities’ option.
- Answer ‘Ok’ to any security question that follows
- Tick mark the field for ‘Use this certificate as a trusted root’ and click ‘ok’ twice to close the windows.
- Click on the ‘validate signature’ option to execute the validation.
Note: – Once ‘NIC sub-CA for NIC 2011, National Informatics centre’ has been as a Trusted Identity, any subsequent documents with digital signatures from CCA will be validated automatically when opened.