Information on How to Retrieve Lost Aadhaar UID and EID Number

Aadhaar Card is a significant document issued under the guidance of the Government of India by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It stands as a valid identity proof of individuals and can also be held in the electronic form downloaded from the official website of UIDAI. The Aadhaar process has been made very transparent by UIDAI. Aadhaar card is the only document which is also required to be linked and authorised by the mobile number of the holder of the card.

What is an Aadhaar Card? 

Aadhaar Card is a one time issued document of identity proof and is valid for a lifetime. It is issued by the UIDAI and has validity all over the country. Aadhaar Card is proof of being an Indian Resident and has no minimum age limit. It can also be issued to a newly born child and stands as a valid identity proof for the lifetime of the individual. It contains a 12-digit random number which forms the unique identification number of the cardholder. The Aadhaar card contains both biometric and demographic data of an individual and can, therefore, be used for various authentication purposes. Some of the common applications of Aadhaar card include the opening of a bank account, availing loan from banks, for fulfilling the KYC need in case of financial transactions, etc. 

Benefits of Aadhaar Card

Aadhaar card is a very beneficial document. The benefits of Aadhaar card are as follows:

• Aadhaar card can be availed free of cost by anyone. This helps even the poor people to easily avail Aadhaar card as a valid identity proof.
• Aadhaar card can be availed easily by visiting authorised centres called permanent enrolment centres. To simplify the process of enrolment for Aadhaar card, 10000 post offices and banks are authorised by UIDAI to issue Aadhaar card. Thus, you can get an Aadhaar card easily.
• Aadhaar card is a lifetime identity proof and does not require any renewal.
• The Aadhaar card contains biometric as well as demographic details of the cardholder that is used to authenticate the identity at the time of availing various services 
• You can avail government subsidies with the help of the Aadhaar card and if your bank account is linked to Aadhaar, the subsidy is directly credited to your account making it a simple process
• Aadhaar card can be held in electronic mode and has the same validity as that of a physical document. All you need to do is download your Aadhaar card from the official website of UIDAI or from the m-Aadhaar mobile application and use it whenever needed.

What are Aadhaar UID and EID numbers?

There are two numbers which are associated with Aadhaar. They are UID number and EID number. Let’s understand what these numbers are –

• UID NumberUID Number stands for Unique Identification number. It is the 12-digit number which is mentioned on the Aadhaar card. This number gives you a unique identity and is used for verification purposes.
• EID NumberEID number, on the other hand, is the number which you get when you enrol for Aadhaar. The full-form of the EID number is the Enrolment Identification Number. This is a 14-digit number which is printed on the enrolment form which is used to apply for Aadhaar card. Before the UID number is assigned to you, you can use the EID number for checking your Aadhaar application status and also for downloading your Aadhaar card in an electronic format.

Loss of UID and/or EID number

In some cases, you might lose your Aadhaar card due to theft, robbery or damage. In case of lost Aadhaar card, the UID number can also be lost if you don’t remember it. Similarly, if you lose your enrolment form, the EID number would be lost. If you want to download an e- Aadhaar card or replace a lost Aadhaar card, you would need your UID or your EID number for the same. In fact, the UID number would be needed for all verification purposes and also for availing online Aadhaar services. 

Since both UID and EID numbers are important, UIDAI allows you the facility of retrieving the lost UID and/or EID number online through its website and mobile application. The process is simple and you can retrieve your lost UID and/or EID numbers easily within minutes. Let’s understand the process involved –

Retrieval of lost UID/EID number through UIDAI website

You can retrieve the lost UID and/or EID number directly from the website of UIDAI. The steps for the same are listed below –

• Visit the official website of UIDAI at https://uidai.gov.in/
• On the home page, go to ‘My Aadhaar’ and choose ‘Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID’

• A new tab would open wherein you would have to choose whether you want to retrieve the UID or the EID
• Whatever option you choose, you would have to enter in your name in full, mobile number or email ID which is registered in the Aadhaar database and the captcha code which is displayed 

• You would then have to generate an OTP or a TOPT
• The OTP would be sent to your registered mobile number. Alternatively, if you have the TOPT, you can enter it 
• Once the OTP is entered, your details would be verified and the UID or EID number would be shown

Retrieval of lost UID or EID number through mAadhaar application

UIDAI has launched a mobile application called mAadhaar which helps you access Aadhaar related services on your Smartphone. If you have an Android phone you can download the application from Google Play Store and register yourself. Alternatively, if you have an iPhone, you can visit Apple Store to download the application on your phone. Once the application is installed and you have registered yourself, you can find your lost UID and/or EID number using the application. The process is as follows –

• On the application, homepage choose ‘Retrieve EID/UID’
• You would be given two retrieval options – Aadhaar Number (UID) or the Enrolment Number (EID)
• If you choose to find the UID number, click on ‘Aadhaar Number’ and a new page would open. There you would have to enter the 14-digit EID number which is mentioned on the enrolment form as well as the date and time of enrolment. The date and time details would also be stamped on the enrolment form from where you can mention them. The date should be entered in DD/MM/YYYY format and the time should be entered in HH:MM: SS format. You would also have to enter the security code and request for an OTP. The OTP would be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP and the UID number would be shown
• Alternatively, if you want to find the EID number, click ‘Enrolment ID’. A new page opens wherein you would have to enter in your full name, email ID which is optional and your registered mobile number. Then enter in the security code and request for an OTP. The OTP would be sent to your registered mobile number. You can enter the OTP and retrieve the EID number.

Once you have retrieved your lost UID and/or EID number online, you can download your lost Aadhaar card online. You can also order a reprint of your lost Aadhaar card online to get a duplicate Aadhaar.