What happens if I lose my Aadhaar card?

If you have lost your Aadhaar card, you don't need to worry as you can easily obtain a duplicate copy of your Aadhaar card. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Visit the UIDAI's official website or the Aadhaar card portal (https://uidai.gov.in/) and click on the "Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID" option.

2. Select the appropriate option based on whether you want to retrieve your Aadhaar number (UID) or your Enrolment ID (EID).

3. Enter your personal details such as your full name, registered mobile number or email address, and the security code displayed on the screen.

4. Click on the "Send OTP" (OneTime Password) button. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number or email address.

5. Enter the OTP in the provided field and click on the "Verify OTP" button.

6. After successful verification, you will receive a message containing your Aadhaar number (UID) or Enrolment ID (EID) on your registered mobile number or email address.

7. Once you have your Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID, you can visit the UIDAI website and click on the "Download Aadhaar" option.

8. Select the appropriate option to download your Aadhaar card using your Aadhaar number (UID) or Enrolment ID (EID).

9. Follow the instructions on the screen, enter your Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID, and provide the necessary details such as your full name, PIN code, and the security code.

10. Click on the "Request OTP" button to receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.

11. Enter the OTP in the provided field and click on the "Download Aadhaar" button.

12. Your Aadhaar card will be downloaded in PDF format, and you can take a printout of it for future reference.

It's important to note that the downloaded Aadhaar card is passwordprotected. The password is the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters followed by your birth year (YYYY). For example, if your name is "John Smith" and your birth year is 1990, the password will be "JOHN1990".

Additionally, if you have registered your mobile number with Aadhaar, you can also retrieve your Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID by visiting the UIDAI website and using the "Retrieve Lost UID/EID" option.

If you are unable to retrieve your Aadhaar card online or face any difficulties, you can visit the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centre for assistance.