What is TOTP in Aadhaar Card? More safe and secure than OTP

Herb 24

While using the Aadhaar card, we often come across two terms which are OTP and TOTP. While most of us know about the OTP as One- Time Password, many of us are not aware of the TOTP. Here we will discuss TOTP in detail, but before that let us understand what is TOTP in aadhaar.

What is TOTP in an Aadhaar card?

• TOTP (Time-based One Time Password) in Aadhaar is a one-time temporary password or OTP, that is generated by a set of rules and is valid only for a period of 30 seconds. And due to this time flexible characteristic, it is named as TOTP

• TOTP is 8 -digits long numerical figure

• TOTP is completely private to you and is exclusively generated every 30 seconds distinctly for everyone

• The TOTP authentication server and token generation applications like mAadhaar app, use their individual system times for the generation of OTPs. The TOTP algorithm takes into consideration that the system times are coordinated and thus generates the OTP

Why to use TOTP in aadhaar?

A probable question that may come to your mind is why do we need TOTP in aadhaar. Well, let’s see the same. TOTPs avoid many inadequacies that are linked with the old-style of SMS based OTP. One such most important shortcoming which is addressed or solved by TOTPs is that you will not be reliant on the mobile network for the delivery of the SMS. You need to go through an entirely unconnected workflow for the generation and sending of the OTP. TOTP is generated in mobile applications like mAadhaar- another digital initiative by the government of India. We will briefly see what a mAadhaar is.

Where to use Aadhar TOTP?

TOTP (Time-based One Time Password) can be a great alternative to mediocre OTP. TOTP can be used to download Aadhaar Card, check Aadhaar status, download a masked Aadhaar Card, and download Aadhaar virtual ID. Let us see how can we download the Aadhaar Card with TOTP:

1. Visit the official UIDAI website

2. Select “Download Aadhaar” from “Get Aadhaar” on the home page

3. This will bring you to a new page with options to download the electronic copy of your Aadhaar card

4. Select “Aadhaar number” from the options

5. You will be asked to fill in the 12 digit Aadhaar number in a number field

6. Fill it out. Check the box next to “I want a masked Aadhaar ” if you want a masked download

7. Enter the captcha

8. After this, you will see two options below “sent OTP” and “send TOTP”

9. Select TOTP, as it is faster and more secure than OTP

10. Click on “send TOTP”, and enter the TOTP

11. Then click on “verify and download”. And, you have your e Aadhaar card with you now!

How to configure the app of mAadhaar?

You can easily configure the mAadhaar app in 3 simple steps

• You can download mAadhaar android mobile application or iPhone as applicable

• You need to create a profile for new resident

• Navigate to TOTP page view, where your TOTP in aadhaar must be visible and will be effective for 30 seconds as mentioned before

Things to keep in mind TOTP in aadhaar

There is certain important aspect which you need to remember with respect to TOTP in aadhaar and they are stated as below:

1. The mobile TOTP will only remain effective for 30 seconds for safety reasons

2. Your device’s time must be in accordance with the IST time zone or Indian Standard Time zone

3. Subscribers must have registered their cell number with Aadhaar for them to use mAadhaar app

4. mAadhaar is an app that is only applicable for cell phones with Android version 5.0 and above, as per the directive mentioned by UIDAI

5. For mAadhaar to be functional, your smartphone must have the SIM of the Aadhaar-registered cell number and not any other mobile sim

6. Users must ‘Allow’ the mAadhaar app to read the SMS. This app basically reads the OTP automatically, the OTP or One Time Password. As per UIDAI, the manual entry of an OTP has been deactivated for security reasons

Now, that you are aware of what is TOTP in aadhaar, you will be in a position to use the mAadhaar app smoothly. Go ahead and download the app and take the full advantage of being digital.

Hope you got some new digital herb today

We thank you for sparing time to digest our herb

Do Share this post and comment your views

Digital Herb

Lead Healthy Digital Life