Aadhaar eSign Explained: How It Works & Who Can Use It

Aadhaar eSign is one of India's most significant digital infrastructure innovations. It enables any Indian citizen with an Aadhaar number to digitally sign a document — without purchasing a certificate, without a USB token, and without any prior setup. All you need is your Aadhaar number and access to the OTP sent to your linked mobile.

How Aadhaar eSign Works

The process is facilitated by licensed eSign Service Providers (ESPs) and works in six steps:

1. 1The signer receives a document to sign (via email, WhatsApp, or link)
2. 2They enter their 12-digit Aadhaar number
3. 3UIDAI sends a one-time password to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number
4. 4The signer enters the OTP to authenticate their identity
5. 5The ESP generates a one-time signing key and creates the digital signature
6. 6The signed document is returned with a full audit trail

Legal Validity

Aadhaar eSign is legally valid under Section 3A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, as notified by the Government of India via Gazette Notification GSR 776(E) dated October 2015. It produces an electronic signature that is recognized by MCA, Income Tax department, banks, insurance companies, and courts.

However, it's important to note that Aadhaar eSign produces an "electronic signature" (Section 3A), while a DSC produces a "digital signature" (Section 3). Some specific use cases — like signing certain MCA forms — may require the stronger Section 3 digital signature.

Who Can Use It?

Aadhaar eSign is available to anyone who meets these requirements:

• Has an Aadhaar number issued by UIDAI
• Has a mobile number linked to their Aadhaar
• Has an active mobile connection to receive the OTP
• Is 18 years or older

Aadhaar eSign in Falcon Sign

When you send a document for signature using Falcon Sign's request-signature feature, recipients can choose to sign using Aadhaar eSign. This is particularly useful when:

• Your recipient doesn't have a DSC certificate
• You need quick turnaround and can't wait for the signer to purchase a DSC
• The document doesn't require a Section 3 digital signature
• You're collecting signatures from multiple people (employees, clients, vendors)