The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new Aadhaar app for age verification under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, making the process simple and safe without sharing extra data, a senior official said. On January 28, 2026, S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, said the government amended the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules to let private firms provide services using Aadhaar securely. "We frequently contend within the ambit of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is age verification and how age verification will be done. I think we are in a position where, with the Aadhaar app, there is actually a way that age gating can seamlessly apply without oversharing the data," Mr. Krishnan said. He added that companies are already developing solutions demonstrated at the Aadhaar event. The new age gating helps online platforms like social media, gaming, and e-commerce verify users' age to provide appropriate services. It also limits children's access to age-inappropriate content and products. The app can be downloaded from app stores and will help hotels, cinema halls, and online firms verify individuals digitally. This discourages paper Aadhaar copies, which private entities commonly use for verification but are banned from storing according to Aadhaar Act rules. UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the app eases Aadhaar services like mobile number and address updates. "Mobile number update can be done now on the Aadhaar app without going to a centre. The facility of address update is already available but it has been built into this also...," he said. The app includes a contact card feature for sharing digital contacts instead of paper cards. Aadhaar holders can add up to five family profiles, such as children or parents without separate mobile numbers, enabling simpler authentication at airports, events, or cinema halls without physical Aadhaar copies. This app rollout marks a step toward safer digital identity use for services and age checks under the DPDP Act.