Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
GS II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority
- It was established by the Government of India under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act, 2016.
- It operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- It is responsible for issuing and managing Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique identification number for Indian residents.
Key functions and responsibilities of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
- Aadhaar Enrollment and Issuance: UIDAI is responsible for enrolling individuals and issuing Aadhaar numbers. It collects biometric and demographic data of residents and assigns a unique Aadhaar number to each individual.
- Aadhaar Authentication and Verification: UIDAI provides a secure platform for Aadhaar authentication and verification. This authentication is used by various government and private entities to verify an individual’s identity for service delivery and benefit distribution.
- Ensuring Data Security and Privacy: UIDAI is tasked with maintaining the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the Aadhaar database. It implements robust security measures to protect personal information and prevent unauthorized access.
- Updating Aadhaar Details: The UIDAI facilitates the process of updating and correcting demographic and biometric details of individuals in the Aadhaar database. This ensures that the data remains accurate and up to date.
- Aadhaar-Based Services: UIDAI enables Aadhaar-based services like Aadhaar-based payments, e-KYC (Know Your Customer), and digital signatures, enhancing the ease of transactions and service delivery.
- Providing Support to Agencies: UIDAI provides technical and operational support to government agencies, banks, and other organizations to integrate Aadhaar authentication in their systems and processes.
- Aadhaar-Based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): UIDAI supports the government’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme by ensuring that subsidies and benefits are directly transferred to the beneficiaries’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
- Public Awareness and Education: UIDAI conducts public awareness and education campaigns to inform individuals about the benefits and proper use of Aadhaar and to dispel any misconceptions or myths surrounding it.
Challenges
- Aadhaar has become a foundational identity document in India, facilitating efficient and targeted service delivery and helping in the implementation of various government welfare schemes and financial inclusion initiatives.
- However, concerns related to data privacy and security have also been raised, and UIDAI continues to work on addressing these issues and ensuring that Aadhaar is used responsibly and securely.