Google has introduced a new feature in India that lets users store their Aadhaar information digitally within Google Wallet. This innovation significantly reduces the need to carry a physical Aadhaar card, making identity verification quicker and more convenient.
How Aadhaar in Google Wallet works
Developed in partnership with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the feature allows users to add their Aadhaar‑based verifiable credentials to Google Wallet on their Android phones. Once added, the digital ID can be used for verification whenever required, without handing over or even showing the full Aadhaar card.
Privacy‑first “verifiable credentials”
The system runs on a “Verifiable Credentials” framework, which means users do not have to share their entire Aadhaar number or other sensitive details. If a service only needs age or identity confirmation, the user can selectively share just that specific data, keeping the rest of the information hidden. This selective‑disclosure approach is built on international security standards and is designed to minimise data exposure while improving privacy and control.
Controlling what you share
Google states that the feature includes “selective disclosure” capabilities, allowing users to explicitly choose what information to share with each service. The Aadhaar credentials are stored securely on the device and are not saved in the cloud, ensuring that explicit consent is required before any details such as name, age, or address are revealed.
Where the feature can be used
This functionality can be applied across a range of everyday situations, including:
- Age verification for movies at PVR INOX.
- Identity checks on platforms like BharatMatrimony.
- Auto‑filling or verifying details for visa applications on services like Atlys.
- Visitor or staff verification on platforms such as MyGate.
These integrations streamline onboarding and verification, reducing dependence on physical documents or repeated uploads of Aadhaar images.
Broader rollout and global expansion
Google has already begun rolling out Aadhaar support in Google Wallet in India and plans to extend the system to more services over time. The company is also expanding its digital ID features to other countries, including Singapore, Taiwan, and Brazil, where users can store passport‑based digital IDs in the Wallet for both online and in‑person verification.
By adding Aadhaar support to Google Wallet, Google is pushing digital identity toward a “digital‑first” model, where people can verify who they are quickly and securely—without reaching for a physical card.
