For providing a second level of protection, the government had recently introduced the concept of Virtual ID to add another level of safety and security to your Aadhar card. The Virtual ID is an added security feature in your Aadhar card to ensure that the double protection virtually makes your data theft-proof.
How to Generate Virtual ID for your Aadhar Card
Aadhaar Virtual ID is a 16-digit temporary code that can be used for Aadhaar authentications. You can provide the UIDAI virtual ID instead of your Aadhaar number to agencies and protect your Aadhaar details from being accessed by someone else. This virtual id is randomly generated and hence it cannot be traced back to the origin by anyone. This is very useful in ecommerce transactions where you are authenticating yourself with the Aadhar. You can use the Virtual ID instead. You can provide the Aadhaar virtual ID to get your e-KYC done at both private and government organisations. UIDAI has started this facility effective from June 1st 2018. In fact, nowadays you need a virtual id for most of your online authentication. Virtual ID addresses the issue of Aadhaar data breach as it would become almost impossible to track the Aadhaar number from the virtual ID. Virtual ID can also be used for Aadhaar card download from UIDAI’s online portal.
Is the Virtual ID a replacement for the Aadhar Number?
Virtual ID is an alternative not a replacement to Aadhaar number. This temporary code consists of 16 numerals that are generated against an Aadhaar number. However, the virtual ID in no case can be used to retrieve the original Aadhaar card. At a time, only one virtual ID is generated against an Aadhaar number. It can be generated as many times as the user wants. This revocable code is valid for at least one day and can be changed with the change in date. For example, if you generate a Virtual ID for your Aadhar card today, then you can use for the next 24 hours. After that, a new Virtual ID will be required. It is almost like a random 16-digit number that is generated that conceals your actual Aadhar number. In fact, you can create a new Virtual ID with your Aadhar but the virtual ID cannot be used to generate and download your Aadhar card. Hence there is no scope for any misuse.
Generating the Aadhar Virtual ID in 5 consolidated steps
You have to generate the virtual ID to use it against your Aadhaar. The virtual ID can be generated online by visiting the UIDAI’s official site. As of now the VID facility is not available in the mobile APP but it may soon be added. However, it is worth mentioning that you should have the mobile number registered with UIDAI to avail this service as the virtual ID will be sent to your mobile number. In case you have not registered your mobile number with UIDAI, you will have to first link your mobile number with Aadhaar. The process for retrieving a virtual ID is same as that of the VID generation. To generate the Aadhaar virtual ID, you can follow these 5 steps:
Visit UIDAI’s website at http://uidai.gov.in and click on the “Virtual ID (VID) Generator” from Aadhaar Services section. This is the first step to generating your VID.
You will be directed to a new VID Generation page https://goo.gl/vFQgic where you will be required to enter your 12 digit Aadhaar Number and the image security code. Once that is done, you must now click on the “Send OTP” button. An OTP will be sent to your mobile number that is registered with UIDAI
Once you receive the OTP, you can enter the OTP and select the option to either “Generate VID” or “Retrieve VID”. Once you click on the Submit button, you will get a message saying “Congratulations! VID Number Successfully generated and sent to your registered mobile.”
The Virtual ID will come as a message on your registered mobile number mentioning the 16-digit virtual ID for Aadhaar number and the last 4 digits of Aadhaar that has been generated.
You can generate virtual IDs for other Aadhaar numbers as well for your family as and when you want to use the Aadhar to authenticate for e-KYC.
How the Aadhar Virtual ID protects your privacy?
This Virtual ID was implemented after there were repeated claims of Aadhaar data leakage have been allegedly made and the Aadhar information being compromised. UIDAI has addressed the concerns of people and has come up with this 16-digit virtual ID. When users provide their virtual IDs instead of Aadhaar, agencies cannot retrieve the Aadhaar number of the applicant and the authentication is carried out as usual. Thus, the Aadhaar details are not accessed by the agencies in any manner keeping the Aadhaar number and other details safe from being hacked. You can also add one more level of safety here. Once the authentication is complete, you can regenerate the virtual ID so that the details with the agency are anyways, are rendered pointless.