What is Masked Aadhaar: Applicability and Advantages

Most institutions accept an Aadhaar card as a reliable form of identity verification. People commonly use it for opening bank accounts, applying for passports, and other official purposes. For individuals concerned about sharing their complete 12-digit Aadhaar number, Aadhaar masking is a more secure alternative.

Introduced by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the masked Aadhaar displays only the last four digits of your Aadhaar number. In this blog, we will explain the masked aadhaar meaning, how it differs from the regular version and its various uses.

What is masked Aadhaar card?

A masked Aadhaar is a secure and legally valid version of the standard Aadhaar card, where the first eight digits of the 12-digit Aadhaar number are hidden (masked) with crosses (‘XXXX-XXXX’) and only the last four digits of the number are visible.

All other details, including name, date of birth, photograph, gender, and the QR code, remain fully visible. In short, a masked Aadhaar means an Aadhaar card with a partially hidden identification number and the UIDAI signature providing enhanced security.

Masked Aadhaar vs Regular Aadhaar Card

What are the uses of a masked Aadhaar card?

The masked Aadhaar is valid for several day-to-day verification needs, such as:

• KYC (Know Your Customer)
• Online service authentication (where the full Aadhaar number is not mandatory)
• Loan applications
• SIM activation
• E-wallet verifications

However, you cannot use it for Income Tax Return purposes and to avail of government welfare schemes through Direct Bank Transfer (DBT).

Why should you get a masked Aadhaar?

Opting for a masked Aadhaar card gives you several advantages:

• It reduces the chances of identity theft while e-KYC
• You can easily download it through the UIDAI website or the mAadhaar app
• The masked Aadhaar remains valid for most services, with authentication by UIDAI
• Your Aadhaar is accessible in the PDF format whenever you need it

As digital transactions and verifications continue to become the norm, understanding what is masked aadhaar card and its benefits is a significant step forward in digital data protection.. Acceptable across various platforms and backed by UIDAI’s authentication, a masked Aadhaar is a document every Indian should have.

The next time you go to apply for a loan, activate a SIM, or complete an e-KYC, you can easily opt for a masked version of your Aadhaar card, available in PDF format.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is a masked Aadhaar?

   A masked Aadhaar is a version of your Aadhaar where the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number and the last four digits are visible (e.g., XXXX-XXXX-1234).

2. How to get masked Aadhaar card?

   Visit the masked Aadhaar download link, enter your Aadhaar number or VID, and select the option to receive a masked Aadhaar. Authenticate using the OTP and download the PDF.

3. What is my password for masked Aadhaar card PDF?

   The masked aadhaar password is a combination of the first four letters of your name in UPPERCASE, followed by your birth year. For example, if your name is AJAY SHARMA and you were born in 1990, your password would be AJAY1990.

4. Can my regular Aadhaar be converted to a masked Aadhaar?

   No, you cannot convert your regular Aadhaar card to a masked one. Instead, you can generate masked Aadhaar​ and keep it in addition to your regular Aadhaar card.

5. Is masked Aadhaar valid for KYC?

   Yes, the UIDAI-issued masked Aadhaar is valid for KYC and other identity verification processes that do not require the full Aadhaar number. Most private service providers accept it.