These days you need your Aadhaar card for many so things, so you tend to carry the card wherever you go. When you do that, there’s a good chance of it being lost or damaged. So what do you do if this happens and you need a fresh copy of your Aadhaar card?
Taking a printout on your own
The easiest way of getting a fresh Aadhaar card is to simply download the card and then take a print-out. In order to do this, you have to download your Aadhaar card from the web site of the Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI, the government body responsible for issuing Aadhaar or UID numbers. Here’s how you do it:Note that you will need a registered mobile phone number in order to download Aadhaar phone number. If you haven’t registered your phone number you will have to visit the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre to do so.
Some people get the Aadhaar card printed and then have it laminated. The UIDAI has warned against this practice, saying that it’s not a good idea to share your Aadhaar number with unauthorised persons while getting it laminated. The print-out of the downloaded Aadhaar card, even in black and white form, is as valid as the original Aadhaar card sent by UIDAI. There is absolutely no need to print it on plastic card or get it laminated, UIDAI said in a press release issued a couple of years ago.
Order an Aadhaar reprint
If you don’t have a printer or want the Aadhaar to be printed on the original paper, you can always order a reprint from the UIDAI web site by paying nominal fees of Rs. 50. Here’s how you do it:Download using mAadhaar app
You can download your Aadhaar card or get a reprint using the mAadhaar app. If you haven’t got the app, download it from Google Play Store. According to UIDAI, you don’t need a paper copy of the Aadhaar card for any purpose; an electronic copy is equally valid.
If you want to share an electronic copy with any service provider here’s what you need to do:So, getting a copy of your Aadhaar is quite easy and convenient. But remember that an electronic copy is equally valid, so you don’t have to panic if you lose your card.