• The electronic version of the Aadhaar card is called E-Aadhaar. E-Aadhaar is password protected and can be downloaded online. For downloading  E-Aadhaar, you should visit the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) website.  

• You must have the E-Aadhaar password and Aadhaar number or Enrollment ID to download the e Aadhaar. E-Aadhaar Card is valid and equivalent to a physical Aadhaar card copy. You can check the eaadhaar status and take an E-Aadhaar print by visiting the official website of UIDAI. 

• Though Aadhaar is not mandatory, it is required for many online procedures during this era of digitisation. Be it a physical copy or an E-Aadhaar, it is always in the best interest to have a copy of your Aadhaar with you.

All the personal information related to an individual is available on an eAadhaar card.  E-Aadhaar by UIDAI is similar to its physical copy. You can visit the UIDAI website and view Aadhaar information, including;

• Aadhaar number

• Name

• Photograph

• Date of birth

• Address

• Sex

For e Aadhaar card download, you must have the 12 digit Aadhaar number or the enrollment ID. Below-mentioned are steps to download eaadhaar online.

• Step 1: To get E-Aadhaar, go to the official website of UIDAI - uidai.gov.in

• Step 2: Click on the ‘Download Aadhaar’ option under the ‘Get Aadhaar’ section.

• Step 3: Enter in the Aadhaar number or the enrollment ID, whichever is applicable.

• Step 4: Enter your name and pin code.

• Step 5: Then, you have to click on the option titled, ‘Get One Time Password’(OTP).

• Step 6: You will now receive an OTP, which should be entered in the given field.

• Step 7: Download your  e aadhaar card by clicking on ‘Download’.

• Step 8: Enter the first four letters of your name in capitals along with your birth year (YYYY format) as the E-Aadhaar password. Eg: If your name is Rajesh and your year of birth is 1987, your password will be RAJE1987.

• Step 9: Now, you can open the E-Aadhaar PDF file.

• Step 10: Take a print out of the PDF if you need.

DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based app that can be used to verify, issue, store and share various certificates and documents. UIDAI joined hands with the DigiLocker app and made it possible for Aadhaar cardholders to link their  Aadhaar card with the app. Many documents from the registered issuers like Registrar Office, Income Tax department, CBSE, etc., are issued directly in this app. Follow the below-mentioned steps to download your E-Aadhaar card from your DigiLocker account:

• Step 1: Open your DigiLocker app.

• Step 2: Log in and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.

• Step 3: Click on ‘verify’, and you will receive an OTP.

• Step 4: Enter the OTP you received.

• Step 5: Click on the ‘Verify OTP’ button.

• Step 6: After verifying the OTP, a page titled ‘Issued Document’ will appear. 

• Step 7: You can download and save your ‘E-Aadhaar card’ from there.

• Easy to Carry and Cannot be Misplaced: Since E-Aadhaar card is available online, you can access it all the time. There is no need to carry the physical copy around or worry about losing the Aadhaar card as it is virtual.

• Equally valid: All the data printed in a physical copy of the Aadhaar card is also available on the e Aadhaar card, and it is equally valid.

• Universal Identity Card: E-Aadhaar card is an universal identity card that every resident of India can obtain. This card can identify you as a resident of India anywhere in the world.

• Proof of Identity as well as Address: This card can act as a proof of identity and a proof of address. This is not possible for many other documents.

• Avail Subsidies: To avail the subsidies provided by the Government of India, applicants must submit a copy of their Aadhaar card.

• Open Bank Accounts: Using an Aadhaar card, one can open bank accounts. For easy transactions, it is mandatory to link your bank account to your Aadhaar card if you have both of them.