India
Nagaland Home Department Orders Use of Aadhaar App Credentials as Valid ID
By Swati Gandhi
Nagaland’s Home Department on Tuesday directed all state government departments, district administrations and implementing agencies to recognise credentials that are shared or verified through the newly launched Aadhaar app as valid proof of identity. The directive, issued under the Unique Identification Authority of India (Aadhaar Usage Division) Circular No. HQ-30011/3/2025-AU-HO dated 30 April 2026, states that the Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials shown, shared and/or verified through the app shall now be treated as valid identity proof.
The Home Department added that all concerned bodies across the state must ensure strict compliance and accept the Aadhaar verifiable credentials presented through the app for establishing the identity of Aadhaar holders.
The directive follows a circular from UIDAI’s Aadhaar Usage Division aimed at boosting digital enablement. The UIDAI Aadhaar App, available on Android and iOS, allows users to present, share and verify their identity digitally. The app can share either complete or partial identity details as Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials. Identity information shared through the app has legal validity under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which recognises records in electronic form.
The department clarified that sharing identity details with an Offline Verification Seeking Entity (OVSE) through the app does not expose the holder’s full 12‑digit Aadhaar number. It also stated that digital credentials presented through the app are an additional accepted form of identification, holding the same validity as existing Aadhaar formats such as the Aadhaar letter, e‑Aadhaar, masked e‑Aadhaar, Aadhaar PVC card and m‑Aadhaar.
Separately, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced that beneficiaries of several schemes who have been receiving payments based on their Aadhaar numbers will soon have to use their biometrics and voter ID (EPIC) numbers to receive payments. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Workshop on People’s Plan Campaign 2026–27 on 30 October, Singh said that biometric authentication and voter ID EPIC numbers would replace Aadhaar for verifying beneficiaries and processing payments.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Nagaland Home Department directive require?
It requires all state government departments, district administrations and implementing agencies to recognise Aadhaar app verifiable credentials as valid proof of identity.
Under what legal framework are Aadhaar verifiable credentials considered valid?
They have legal validity under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which recognises records in electronic form.
Does sharing credentials through the Aadhaar app expose the holder’s full 12‑digit Aadhaar number?
No, the app shares either complete or partial identity details and does not expose the full 12‑digit Aadhaar number.