Google now supports Aadhaar-based digital identification in Google Wallet, allowing users in India to store and verify their identity on their smartphones. Developed with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), this feature enables Aadhaar to serve as a secure, digital-first identity credential for daily use.
Users can now store their Aadhaar as a “verifiable credential” in Google Wallet, allowing them to verify their identity without a physical Aadhaar card or a government portal login.
How the system works: The Aadhaar credential is securely stored in Google Wallet on the device and supports both in-person and remote verification. Rather than relying on repeated server-side authentication, the system issues a digitally signed Aadhaar to the user, which is then stored on their smartphone.
Access to the Aadhaar credential is protected by device-level security, such as biometrics, PINs, or screen locks. To add the credential, users must first verify their identity through the Aadhaar system, using an OTP. Once stored, the credential can be shared via QR codes or similar methods, including in certain offline situations.
A key feature is selective disclosure, which lets users share only specific details from the person’s ID, like age, without revealing their full Aadhaar data.
The credential can be used with supported services for routine identity checks, but it may not replace the physical Aadhaar card in all situations.
From pre-installation push to platform-based integration: This rollout follows the government’s decision to withdraw its proposal requiring pre-installation of the Aadhaar app on smartphones.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the proposal initially advanced by the UIDAI was shelved after consultations with smartphone manufacturers and broader industry pushback. The ministry stated it is “not in favour of mandating the pre-installation” of such apps, citing concerns about device security, compatibility, and increased production costs.
Part of a wider trend: It marked one of several recent attempts to require pre-installed government apps on devices, many of which, like the Sanchar Saathi app, have faced resistance and were later withdrawn.
In this context, integrating Aadhaar into Google Wallet represents a strategic shift.
Part of a broader digital ID push: Aadhaar integration with Google Wallet is part of a broader partnership between Google and the UIDAI, announced in January 2026, to create a secure, digital-first identity ecosystem in India. This initiative aims to streamline identity verification for daily activities such as travel, hotel check-ins, and online services, reducing reliance on physical documents and supporting consent-based sharing and secure credential exchange across platforms.
The initial set of partners includes:
These integrations reflect an effort to incorporate Aadhaar-based verification into daily digital activities, such as entertainment, housing, mobility, and gig work.
It also reflects Google Wallet’s global rollout of digital IDs, which allows users in countries like Singapore, Brazil, and Taiwan to create secure ID passes using passport information for identity and age verification in both online and in-person settings.
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