10-Nov-2022: Regarding document update in Aadhaar

During the past decade, Aadhaar number has emerged as a proof of identity of residents in India. Aadhaar number is being used for availing several government schemes and services.

Residents who had got their Aadhaar issued 10 years ago, and have never updated after that in these years, such Aadhaar number holders are encouraged to get their documents updated.

Some news reports have incorrectly reported on Thursday that it has been made mandatory. It is informed to ignore these reports and social media posts.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has previously issued a press release underlining that it is urging and encouraging residents to keep their documents updated. The recently issued gazette notification also clearly mentions that residents “may” do so on completion of every 10 years.

Keeping the documents in Aadhaar updated helps in ease of living, better service delivery, and enables accurate authentication. UIDAI has always encouraged residents to keep their documents updated, and the gazette notification is another step in that direction.

23-Nov-2021: IT Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates ‘Aadhaar 2.0- Ushering the Next Era of Digital Identity and Smart Governance’

Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, inaugurated today a 3-day workshop titled ‘Aadhaar 2.0- Ushering the Next Era of Digital Identity and Smart Governance’ commencing from 23rd November, 2021 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Several dignitaries including Shri Ajay Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Dr. Saurabh Garg, CEO, UIDAI graced the occasion with active participation from Central and State Ministries.

On the occasion, Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Aadhaar has made a fundamental difference in lives of millions of people especially those who are at the bottom of pyramid. It has made a significant difference the way government programs are administered. Adding further to this, Shri Vaishnaw mentioned about the 3 thoughts/ideas that can be deliberated upon. He raised the question about raising the question of having international standards for identification given in the context of globe which is increasingly getting digitalized. Second thought was to make the Aadhaar services more accessible by building technologies and hardware systems around it. Talking about the privacy and legal framework with regards to Aadhaar, the Minister said that today legal framework is settled with Aadhaar Act, Supreme Court judgement and will be further strengthened by Data Privacy Bill.

Addressing on the occasion, Shri Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT, said that Aadhaar has given identity to large number of people who did not any identity earlier. Aadhaar has shown that a digital identity can be used in several ways than the physical identity can be used. It has been used in range of services and has helped in bringing financial inclusion, broadband and telecom services, direct benefit transfers to the bank account of citizens in a transparent manner.

In a virtual message played during the inaugural event, Shri Nandan Nilekani, Former Chairman, UIDAI, shared his ideas and message on Aadhaar related aspects. Talking from futuristic perspective, Shri Nilekani highlighted 3 ideas that can be discussed. These includes role of Aadhaar in transformation of electrical grid system that requires Discoms to be healthy, for which electricity subsidies to go directly go into the bank accounts of beneficiaries; direct benefit transfers to the forest residents-for preserving biodiversity and forests; and portability of social security systems.

Dr. Saurabh Garg, CEO, UIDAI informed that The Aadhaar 2.0 Workshop is an introspection-cum-exploratory endeavor by UIDAI to analyze the reach of Digital Identity in major reforms and schemes launched by the Government. It also aims to look into various futuristic aspects of Digital Identity to achieve universal inclusion, both social as well as financial.

The 3-days event shall provide an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas & information, promote insightful debates and share experiences about developments and initiatives around the world around Digital Identity among various stakeholders including:

• Government of India and identity authorities
• Private sector entities utilizing authentication and e-KYC services
• Leading Think-Tanks and SMEs from International Diaspora
• Organizations in Social and Regulatory space

The workshop will also be telecast live on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook handles of UIDAI.

About ‘Aadhaar 2.0’ Workshop: The theme of the workshop series "Aadhaar 2.0 - Ushering the Next Era of Digital Identity and Smart Governance" is considering Aadhaar as a Trusted ID as a platform and method for delivering innovative digital solutions. It also focuses on strategies of Aadhaar that can strengthen and simplify its service delivery. Along with it, the workshop also delivers insights of evolvements and transition of digital ID. It is also an opportunity to focus on rebuilding more inclusive systems that allow society as a whole to be more resilient to future shocks, and safety.

The workshop is divided into eight sessions for deliberations on various topics which are elaborated as:-

Session 1: Strengthening and Simplifying Enrolment and Update Ecosystem

The key takeaways for this session are changes required in Aadhaar enrolment and updated service delivery to provide a frictionless experience for the residents; improving enrolments on focus areas and how Aadhaar can continue itself as one of the main enablers of identity verification in both on-line as well as offline mode in light of the SWIK rules (Social welfare, Innovation and Knowledge).

Session 2: Digital Identity: A Key to Inclusive Growth and Empowerment

The discussion with talks about How to usher in, the next phase of Digital enablement and empowerment for the masses will be driven by the creation and development of applications that move government services closer to people - individuals and other units: Governance with a newly digitized model of identification, accountability and transparency.

Session 3: Expanding the use of Aadhaar to boost Digital Economy

The discussion will focus on - what Aadhaar can deliver on e-gov; e-commerce and e-banking and finance in particular.

Session 4: Deploying Trusted Digital Identities - Information Security

This session will explore the best way to ensure that all Aadhar ecosystem partners also follow the best security practices.  Deliberations on how to deter, detect and prosecute fraud in Aadhaar enrolment and authentication.

Session 5: Aadhaar as an International Digital Identity Standard

Aadhaar as a framework for creating International standards for digital identity, a roadmap for International digital identity standards and across borders interoperability. The session will also talk about ensuring security and privacy, and framework for data sharing amongst countries.

Session 6: Legal Aspects of Data Security and Privacy

The Legal session would dwell on assessing the existing legal framework with respect to Data Security and Privacy while delivering the Identity services and could also explore the scope for improvement in the policy gap, technological gap if any.

Session 7: Smart Devices as Universal Authenticator

The discussion will be around Smart Phone Usage Trend and Key Developments likely to happen in the Telecom Domain, Biometrics for all - How face authentication can be leveraged through Smartphones? And Use Smart Phone for Finger Print Capture Authentication - Challenges and Way Forward. The discussion focus would be on Voice Authentication, Use FIDO Standards for Aadhaar Usage - Platform for Password less authentication for Public Services and Industry View on the adaptation of Aadhaar Technologies and making it available for the public.

Session 8: Adoption of New Technologies in Aadhaar

Discussions on recent advances in biometrics and their improvement using Artificial Intelligence and esp. deep learning techniques. We will also look at blockchain-based technologies and applications as well as the impact of Aadhaar and these new technologies in the Banking sector.

21-Jan-2019: Aadhaar card can now be used to travel to Bhutan, Nepal by Indians under 15 and over 65 years of age

Indians under 15 and over 65 years of age, travelling to Nepal and Bhutan can now use their Aadhaar cards as a valid travel document. The information has been relayed by the Home Ministry. However, Indians who do not fall inside these two age brackets will not be permitted to use Aadhaar cards to travel to these two countries.

It is important to note here that Indians travelling to Nepal and Bhutan do not need a visa if they have valid passports, a photo ID card issued by the Indian government, or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission of India.

Erstwhile, the rule stated that people over 65, and under 15 years of age could show their PAN card, driving license, Central Government Health Service card, or ration card to prove their identity when travelling to these two nations. Aadhaar cards were not permissible. Now, Aadhaar card issued by the Unique Identity Authority of India permits the use of this card in Nepal and Bhutan.

However, it should be kept in mind that an emergency certificate and identity certificate that may be issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal, will be valid for a single journey back to India. Furthermore, citizens between 15 to 18 years of age would be permitted to travel between India and Nepal if provided with an identity certificate issued by the principal of the child’s school in the correct form.

When families travel together to Nepal or Bhutan, only one adult member needs to have valid travel papers. Then again, the other members would be required to have some proof of photographic identity that could prove their relationship with each other.

What is Aadhaar?

Aadhaar number is a 12-digit random number issued by the UIDAI (“Authority”) to the residents of India after satisfying the verification process laid down by the Authority. Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, who is a resident of India, may voluntarily enroll to obtain Aadhaar number. Person willing to enroll has to provide minimal demographic and biometric information during the enrolment process which is totally free of cost. An individual needs to enroll for Aadhaar only once and after de-duplication only one Aadhaar shall be generated, as the uniqueness is achieved through the process of demographic and biometric de-duplication.

Demographic information: Name, Date of Birth (verified) or Age (declared), Gender, Address, Mobile Number (optional) and Email ID (optional), in case of Introducer-based enrolment- Introducer name and Introducer’s Aadhaar number, in case of Head of Family based enrolmen- Name of Head of Family, Relationship and Head of Family’s Aadhaar number; in case of enrolment of child- Enrolment ID or Aadhaar number of any one parent, Proof of Relationship (PoR) document.

Biometric information: Ten Fingerprints, Two Iris Scans, and Facial Photograph

Aadhaar number is verifiable in an online, cost-effective way. It is unique and robust enough to eliminate duplicates and fake identities and may be used as a basis/primary identifier to roll out several Government welfare schemes and programmes for effective service delivery thereby promoting transparency and good governance. This is the only program of its kind globally, wherein a state-of-the-art digital and online Id is being provided free of cost at such a large scale to people, and has the potential to change the way service delivery functions in the country.

Aadhaar number is devoid of any intelligence and does not profile people based on caste, religion, income, health and geography. The Aadhaar number is a proof of identity, however, it does not confer any right of citizenship or domicile in respect of an Aadhaar number holder.

Aadhaar is a strategic policy tool for social and financial inclusion, public sector delivery reforms, managing fiscal budgets, increase convenience and promote hassle-free people-centric governance. Aadhaar can be used as a permanent Financial Address and facilitates financial inclusion of the underprivileged and weaker sections of the society and is therefore a tool of distributive justice and equality. The Aadhaar identity platform is one of the key pillars of the ‘Digital India’, wherein every resident of the country is provided with a unique identity. The Aadhaar programme has already achieved several milestones and is by far the largest biometrics based identification system in the world.

Aadhaar identity platform with its inherent features of Uniqueness, Authentication, Financial Address and e-KYC, enables the Government of India to directly reach residents of the country in delivery of various subsidies, benefits and services by using the resident’s Aadhaar number only.

About UID
Unique Identification numbers (UID) also named as "Aadhaar", is issued to all residents of India. The UID is (a) robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and (b) verifiable and authenticable in an easy, cost-effective way. As on 31 March 21, the Authority has issued 128.99 crore Aadhaar numbers to the residents of India.

Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, developing the policy, procedure, and system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication and the security of identity information and authentication records of individuals.

Historical Background

On March 03, 2006, approval was given by the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India for the project titled ‘Unique Identification for BPL Families. Accordingly, a Processes Committee was set up on July 03, 2006, to suggest the process for updating, modification, addition, and deletion of data and fields from the core database to be created under the Unique Identification for BPL Families project. This Committee, on November 26, 2006, prepared a paper known as ‘Strategic Vision Unique Identification of Residents’. Based thereupon, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) was set up on December 04, 2006, to collate the National Population Register under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Unique Identification Number project of the Department of Information Technology.

Before its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) vide its Gazette Notification No.-A-43011/02/2009-Admn.I) dated 28th January 2009. The first UID number was issued on 29 September 2010 to a resident of Nandurbar, Maharashtra. On 12 September 2015, the Government revised the Allocation of Business Rules to attach the UIDAI to the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY) of the then Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.