New Delhi, Dec. 13 -- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has notified amendments to the Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) Regulations, 2021, introducing a new digital identity document called the Aadhaar Verifiable Credential (AVC) and tightening rules for entities that conduct offline Aadhaar verification (that is, verification not done in real time using UIDAI servers). The changes were published in the Gazette on December 9, and on the UIDAI website on Friday. The most significant amendment is the introduction of AVC, a new digitally signed document that Aadhaar holders can share for identity verification without revealing their full Aadhaar number. Its definition so introduced in the amendment states it is "a digitally signed document issued by the Authority to the Aadhaar number holder which may contain last 4 digits of Aadhaar number, demographic data, like, name, address, gender, date of birth, and photograph of Aadhaar number holder. which may be shared by Aadhaar number holder in full or part with an OVSE [Offline Verification Seeking Entity]. for verifying the demographic information or photograph of the Aadhaar number holder." One immediate question is how users choose what information to share. A UIDAI official told HT that the new Aadhaar app, yet to be officially launched, will let users pick exactly which details in their Aadhaar card they want to share with an OVSE. The step has been taken to reduce photocopying of Aadhaar cards when used in public places like when checking in to hotels. UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar had earlier told HT that electronic sharing would also prevent tampering. "When people take physical copies, they don't generally verify. They just take the physical copy, and there is always a possibility that someone can make manipulations... So this is to avoid the misuse of Aadhaar," he said. The amendment also adds the definition of 'Offline Face Verification,' which allows an entity to verify someone's identity by matching a live face image with the photograph stored in the Aadhaar application. The notification defines it as "a mode of offline verification in which the live facial image of an Aadhaar number holder is captured and is verified against the photograph. stored within the Aadhaar application." UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar tells HT that for Offline Face Verification, a user will first need to complete a one-time online authentication through UIDAI servers to establish their identity. Once this initial check is done, all subsequent face verifications will be done offline as and when required. He added that the new Aadhaar app, which is currently in testing phase, will be made available in beta mode on January 1, 2026. The official launch of the app has been planned for January 28, 2026 - which is also UIDAI Day....