A series of major changes to the Aadhaar system will come into force after midnight on December 31, 2025, as the Unique Identification Authority of India moves to strengthen digital security and prevent misuse of identity data. The updated rules are expected to impact citizens, banks, tax systems, and government services.
UIDAI said the reforms aim to make Aadhaar more digital first, more secure, and based on minimal data exposure. The changes cover card design, verification methods, authentication processes, and Aadhaar PAN linking.
As part of the overhaul, a new Aadhaar card design has been rolled out from December 1, 2025. The redesigned card shows only the holder’s photograph and a secure QR code. It does not display the Aadhaar number or the cardholder’s name. UIDAI said this step reduces the risk of misuse if the card is copied or lost. Verification will be done by scanning the QR code, which provides authenticated details securely. Existing Aadhaar cards will remain valid, and switching to the new card is not mandatory until June 14, 2026.
The authority has also discouraged the use of physical photocopies of Aadhaar. Instead, UIDAI is promoting digital verification methods such as QR code based verification, offline Aadhaar XML, and masked Aadhaar. Officials said most data leaks are linked to misuse of photocopies, and digital options offer stronger protection.
Another key change is the legal recognition of face authentication under the Digital Personal Data Protection law. Facial recognition will now be accepted as a valid Aadhaar authentication method. This is expected to improve access to services in areas where fingerprint or iris authentication often fails and help reduce biometric fraud.
UIDAI and tax authorities have also confirmed that December 31, 2025 is the final deadline for linking Aadhaar with PAN. PAN cards not linked by this date will become inoperative from January 1, 2026. An inoperative PAN will affect income tax return filing, refunds, and many financial transactions.
In addition, Aadhaar cards issued more than 10 years ago will require demographic updates such as name, address, and date of birth to remain fully functional.
Experts advise citizens to complete Aadhaar PAN linking, rely on digital verification methods, avoid sharing photocopies, and update Aadhaar details well before the deadline to avoid disruption.
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