This will give the users the option of not sharing their Aadhaar number at the time of authentication.
The ‘Virtual ID’, which would be a random 16-digit number, together with the biometrics of the user, would give any authorised agency like a mobile company, limited details like name, address and photograph, which are enough for any verification.
Officials said a user could generate as many ‘Virtual IDs’ as he or she wants. The older ID gets automatically cancelled once a fresh one is generated.
‘Limited KYC’
The UIDAI has also introduced ‘limited KYC’, under which it will only provide need-based or limited details of a user to an authorised agency that is providing a particular service, say, a telco.
The ‘Virtual ID’ will be a temporary and revocable number mapped to a person’s Aadhaar number and the Aadhaar-issuing body will start accepting it from March 1, 2018.
From June 1, 2018 it will be compulsory for all agencies that undertake authentication to accept the ‘Virtual IDs’ from the users.
Agencies that do not migrate to the new system to offer this additional option to their users by the stipulated deadline will face financial disincentives.
“An Aadhaar number holder can use ‘Virtual ID’ in lieu of Aadhaar number whenever authentication or KYC services are performed. Authentication may be performed using the ‘Virtual ID’ in a manner similar to using Aadhaar number,” a UIDAI circular said.
The move comes amid heightened concerns around the collection and storage of personal and demographic data of individuals.
People can give their ‘Virtual IDs’ to service agencies along with the fingerprint at the time of authentication. Since the system generated ‘Virtual ID’ will be mapped to an individual’s Aadhaar number itself at the back end, it will do away with the need for the user to share Aadhaar number for authentication.
It will also reduce the collection of Aadhaar numbers by various agencies.
Only users can generate ID
As per the UIDAI, agencies that undertake authentication would not be allowed to generate the ‘Virtual ID’ on behalf of the Aadhaar holder.
The UIDAI is instructing all agencies using its authentication and eKYC services to ensure Aadhaar holders can provide the ‘Virtual ID’ instead of Aadhaar number within their application.
As many as 119 crore biometric identifiers have been issued so far and Aadhaar is required as an identity proof by various government and non-government entities.
For instance, the government has made it mandatory for verifying bank account and PAN to weed out black money and bring unaccounted wealth to book. The same for SIM has been mandated to establish the identity of mobile phone users.
Source: The Hindu.
