Pune: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) may roll out a new Aadhaar application in Dec after which no visits to an Aadhaar centre for updating cellphone numbers will be necessary. The app will best serve those using face authentication matching images with Aadhaar’s biometric records. Services requiring the capture of fingerprints and iris will need to be availed at enrolment centres, UIDAI officials said.The app will cut dependence on physical Aadhaar cards or photocopies sought at in airports, hotels, and other service points. It will make travel smoother, hotel check-ins faster, and retail transactions more secure.UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said Aadhaar face authentication is becoming the hallmark of the digital identity ecosystem.Kumar said citizens will soon be able to share their identity digitally using their smartphones. “ID sharing will become as simple as making a UPI payment. UIDAI is prepared for the future, whether in technology adoption or service delivery. Users will have complete control over data sharing, which cannot be altered or misused,” he added.Demonstrations of the app have shown verifications being completed within seconds.The address update feature is already available through the myAadhaar portal without the need to visit centres.Currently in beta testing with a closed group, the app leverages AI to ensure security and follows a privacy-first design.Residents’ groups said it could ease the burden of long queues at centres. “This facility will help those comfortable with technology, but senior citizens may still prefer to visit centres or carry physical copies,” Madhav Rao, a retiree said. Costlier Services from Oct 1Charges for biometric updates will increase from ₹100 to ₹125, including for children between 7–15 years. Other updates, which currently cost ₹50, will rise to ₹75New enrolments for all age groups and mandatory biometric updates for children aged 5–7 years and 15–17 years will be free Document updates on myAadhaar portal will also remain free of cost until June 14, 2026UIDAI is working with Google Maps to enable users to locate Aadhaar centresAt present, centre locations and addresses can be found on the ISRO-managed Bhuvan portalUIDAI is also standardising the branding of centres to make them more visible
