The mAadhaar app, launched in July this year, can now be used as an identity proof on train journeys, eliminating the need to carry a physical proof with you while taking a train. This comes as a relief to people who are not very fond of physically carrying other prescribed identity proofs such as voter ID, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving licence among others. The mAadhaar app, developed by UIDAI, is a digital platform where Indian citizens can store their demographic details such as name, date of birth, gender, address, and a photograph linked with their respective Aadhaar numbers. The mAadhaar is currently available for Android smartphones, while its iOS counterpart will be out soon.
In order to use mAadhaar as a valid identity proof during train journeys, passengers will have to show their details via the app after unlocking it with their biometric (for e.g., fingerprint). It also has a 'TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password) generation' process that can be brought to use in place of the regular SMS-based OTP (one-time password) system. However, to be able to use mAadhaar on your Android smartphone, you need to register your mobile number with UIDAI. Post this, you can link the mAadhaar app with your Aadhaar details.
"mAadhar, when shown by the passenger on his/her mobile after entering the password, should be accepted as proof of identity for undertaking journey in any reserved class over Indian Railways," reads the statement issued by Ministry of Railways via Press Information Bureau.
While this piece of news is something that most train passengers have been looking forward to for quite some time, it comes amid concerns about Aadhaar being raised by industry analysts and biometric stalwarts. UIDAI's Aadhaar initiative has come under scanner for its openness, as the privacy concerns are on the rise. Indian government recently announced to constitute a 10-member committee to recommend a framework for securing personal data in the increasingly digitised economy as it will also address raised concerns and build safeguards against data breaches in future.
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