The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Sunday, 3 May categorically dismissed viral claims that the Aadhaar card will soon be simplified to just a photograph and a QR code, stating that no such proposal is under consideration and terming the circulating reports misleading.

What the Government Said

In an official statement, MeitY said that news reports and social media posts suggesting an imminent change in Aadhaar's format are factually incorrect and are generating unnecessary public confusion. "There are intermittent news reports and social media posts explaining how Aadhaar's look may change by the end of this year to just a photo and a QR code, alone. This is not correct. There is no plan for any such changes," the ministry stated. It added: "Such news reports and social media posts are creating unwanted confusion in the minds of the people."

What Citizens and Media Have Been Advised

The ministry urged the public to rely exclusively on official communication from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) — through its verified social media handles and press releases issued via the Press Information Bureau (PIB). "People in general are advised to ignore such reports and social media posts and refer to official communication from UIDAI through its official social media handles and press releases issued through PIB. Media is also advised not to encourage such information," the statement read. The advisory is a pointed reminder that misinformation around a system used by over a billion citizens carries real-world consequences.

Scale and Significance of Aadhaar

The clarification comes at a time when Aadhaar's footprint is larger than ever. According to the government, the system currently has around 134 crore enrolled users and has facilitated more than 17,000 crore authentication transactions to date — making it the world's largest biometric identification system. Maintained by UIDAI, the Aadhaar ecosystem underpins identity verification for a sweeping range of public and private services, from direct benefit transfers to banking and telecom onboarding.

Why the Rumour Spread

The viral posts reportedly suggested that Aadhaar's physical and digital format would undergo a major redesign before the end of 2025, stripping it down to a minimalist layout. The claims spread across multiple social media platforms, prompting the government to issue a formal rebuttal. This is not the first time Aadhaar-related misinformation has required an official denial — the UIDAI has previously had to counter false claims about data breaches, deactivation drives, and mandatory re-enrolment. Notably, the recurrence of such misinformation underscores the need for stronger digital literacy around India's foundational identity infrastructure.

What Remains Unchanged

The government reiterated that the current Aadhaar format remains in place and no redesign decision has been taken. Citizens are advised to disregard misleading posts and verify any Aadhaar-related information only through UIDAI's official channels. As Aadhaar continues to expand its role across governance and financial inclusion, the Centre's swift rebuttal signals its intent to protect public trust in the system.