Facelift of Aadhaar card for updated privacy

Aadhaar card came into effect in India after many hurdles. Even retired judges had filed cases all the way to the Supreme Court questioning the introduction of Aadhaar card. A photo card was first introduced nationwide at the insistence of former Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan. In developed foreign countries, the Social Security Card is not just an identity card, but also a card that clarifies the role and responsibility of the government in that person's life. Today, there are almost no people in India who do not have an Aadhaar card. The first Aadhaar card in India was issued to a housewife from Maharashtra.

Aadhaar card had many errors in its initial stages. This led to widespread criticism and fueled the movement against Aadhaar card. Aadhaar was implemented despite strong opposition from various political parties. Today, the situation is such that many services cannot be availed without Aadhaar. Aadhaar is now required as a basic document even to get a room in some hotels. Despite the Supreme Court's ruling that Aadhaar should not be made mandatory for getting government services, almost 100 percent of the people use Aadhaar as their basic document, regardless of that ruling. Even mistakes in Aadhaar can be corrected by going to the website and giving an affidavit.

The rise in digital technology has led to many disadvantages as well as advantages. One of them is the spread of fake Aadhaar cards. Fraudulent activities involving the leakage of information on a person's Aadhaar card are also widespread. This was a fact that no one thought about at the time of the emergence of Aadhaar card. In this era of challenges regarding the importance and privacy of personal information, it is essential to protect the information in Aadhaar. Aimed at significantly enhancing privacy and preventing data misuse, the central government has decided to modify the Aadhaar card by affixing only the photo and QR code. This move is suitable for the new era and is therefore welcome. Personal information and the 12-digit Aadhaar number will be secured in a QR code.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will begin the process for a new Aadhaar card format on December 1. People need not worry about this as they can use their old cards until the new system is fully implemented. However, awareness regarding this should be made a part of the government's campaign. This is because it cannot be said that there is no possibility of many fake campaigns that create doubts and fear among the people regarding this change being spread through social media and other media. The biggest security feature of the new Aadhaar card is that no one else can take a screenshot or print it. People should also be prepared to cooperate with these changes in the new era of Aadhaar.