Aadhaar is a verifiable 12-digit identification number issued by UIDAI to residents of India.
12-digit UID Format (1234/1234/1234)

What is Aadhaar?
Aadhaar number is a 12-digit random number issued by the UIDAI (“Authority”) to the residents of India after satisfying the verification process laid down by the Authority. Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, who is a resident of India, may voluntarily enrol to obtain Aadhaar number. A person willing to enrol has to provide minimal demographic and biometric information during the enrolment process, which is free of cost. An individual needs to register for Aadhaar only once and after de-duplication, one Aadhaar shall be generated, as the uniqueness is achieved through the process of demographic and biometric de-duplication.

Aadhaar number is verifiable online, in a cost-effective way. It is unique and robust enough to eliminate duplicates and fake identities. Aadhaar may be used as a basis/primary identifier to roll out several Government welfare schemes and programmes for effective service delivery, thereby promoting transparency and good governance. Aadhaar is the only program of its kind globally, wherein a state-of-the-art digital and online Id is being provided free of cost at such a large scale to people and has the potential to change the way service delivery functions in the country