Do you have an Aadhaar Card? Have you integrated it with your mobile phone and bank account?

The government had issued a notice to unify them as a guideline earlier. But yes, the Supreme Court has kept this matter under consideration.  You don’t need to share it with your bank or telecom service provider unless the verdict comes out. It’s your personal unique identity. The apex court has granted you a liberty to keep it with you.

Meanwhile, there is an alternative number that can replace the necessity of the Aadhaar number.

Do you know what I am saying? If you don’t understand, catch on-what the virtual ID is, why you would need it and when it can be possible to use it.

What is Virtual ID?

The word ‘virtual’ determines something that is not physically present. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched the concept of a ‘Virtual ID (VID)’ to secure your sensitive data. This kind of data can be your bank account number, password, credit card details and something that a hacker looks for.

As I aforesaid, the Aadhaar number is a vital credential. You never know whether or not the person has malicious intention. And, if someone gets in without your acknowledgement, the security of your sensitive bank details will be at stake. Even, the Apex Court also has understood the sensitivity of this matter. This is why it has decided to put this case under trial.

Now, what if you don’t ever need to share this number? Won’t it be an ‘Aha, Moment!’ for you?

Of course, it will be. The threat of hacking won’t mean anything, then.

Anyways! This is actually going to happen soon, according to UIDAI’s official Twitter post. You would have your own virtual identity number. Once you will get it, you can use it desirously wherever the Aadhaar link is necessary. I said ‘desirously’ because you can input either your original 12-digit ID or your virtual ID.

So! You would soon have your virtual ID in the mid of this year.  Therefore, you can easily get off the potential grave consequences of its hacking via the VID.

Why do you need to link it with the social benefit services, like Ujjwal Yojna and DBT?

The cybercrime is at a surge. Amid such surge, the central government has to take an initiative.  Therefore, it came with a solution of creating a substitute identity.

Do you get any social welfare benefit from the government? In other words, you might be a part of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna. Or, perhaps you get direct benefit transfer (DBT), pensions, scholarship and fellowship. You have to input your unique identity number with your provident fund account. You can’t file for an IT return unless you link it with this number. Banks also deny opening an account without it. And, if you need to apply for a PAN Card, you can’t unless you insert this ID number on its application form.

You come in the hot water if you share your UIDAI-issued ID.  All the aforementioned social benefit services require you to feed in that sensitive detail. If you link it, your details could be publicized. The private agencies, most probably, would have its access.

Would you ever like to share it, then?

This is where VID came into the mainframe.

How can you create your VID?

Unlink a 12-digit Aadhaar ID, this virtual identity number would be 16-digit long. Walk down to know how you can create it:

• Go to the official UIDAI’s official website.
• Enter the Aadhaar card details.
• Load in your security code.
• Feed in the OTP that would flash on your registered phone number.
• Now, create your Virtual ID. Enter 16 characters to do so.

When will it be effective?

The VID introduction was rolled out in January, 2018. But officially, it will be effective from the month of June this year.