Aadhaar

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to residents of India. The number is linked to biometric data — fingerprints and iris scans — and demographic data — name, date of birth, address, phone number, and email. It functions as the unified identity layer for banking, telecom, tax filing, government welfare programs, and a steadily expanding set of private services.

With adoption now near-universal, Aadhaar is the single most valuable identity asset held by Indian residents. The same property that makes it useful — one number that unlocks dozens of services — makes it the highest-value target for identity thieves. A leaked Aadhaar number combined with demographic details can be used to attempt fraudulent KYC, link the number to fake bank accounts, or authenticate transactions if biometrics are also compromised.

The most important protection: lock your Aadhaar biometrics through the mAadhaar app. Once locked, no entity can authenticate financial or government transactions using your fingerprint or iris until you explicitly unlock for a 10-minute window. Combined with the Sanchar Saathi portal for monitoring connected mobile numbers, this closes the most common fraud vectors built on top of Aadhaar.