The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) unveiled five new initiatives at Aadhaar Samvaad in Kolkata, aimed at improving resident convenience, strengthening security and supporting the wider use of Aadhaar for service delivery and governance.
The day-long stakeholder conference brought together more than 600 policymakers, industry representatives, technocrats and professionals. The event coincided with the 17th Aadhaar Day and was attended by Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology.
Prasada described Aadhaar as a critical component of India’s growth and highlighted its role in service delivery and financial inclusion. He also stressed the need for the Aadhaar ecosystem to keep pace with emerging technologies.
UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay said residents would remain at the centre of the organisation’s approach, adding that the new initiatives were aligned with the objective of making Aadhaar services more accessible and convenient.
Five New Initiatives
Face Authentication for ePDS: UIDAI, the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the National Informatics Centre launched Face Authentication for the Electronic Public Distribution System. The consent-based, contactless authentication option will provide beneficiaries with an additional mode of authentication, particularly where fingerprint authentication may be difficult.
SWIK Portal 2.0: The upgraded portal will streamline the process for seeking approval for Aadhaar authentication under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance framework. Eligible non-government entities can submit proposals for permissible use cases through the portal to the concerned Ministry or Department.
Sub-AUA/Sub-KUA (LITE) Framework: The framework is intended to facilitate Aadhaar authentication for government and eligible non-government entities with low-volume requirements. Such entities can use the authentication infrastructure of an existing AUA/KUA, reducing the need to establish separate authentication infrastructure while complying with UIDAI’s security, privacy and regulatory requirements.
New Token Management System: UIDAI also introduced a new token management system to facilitate visits to UIDAI’s state and regional offices for applicable services.
Revamped UIDAI Website: Prasada unveiled the redesigned UIDAI website, structured around four key resident requirements: understanding Aadhaar, accessing services, finding documents and seeking assistance.
The revamped website follows Aadhaar brand guidelines and provides a consistent visual identity across the UIDAI website, the myAadhaar portal and the Aadhaar App. It also includes accessibility features such as screen-reader compatibility, adjustable font sizes, improved colour contrast and keyboard navigation.
Also Read: UP Sets ₹5 Lakh Crore Export Target by 2030: Piyush Goyal
With BHASHINI integration, the website currently supports 13 languages, including English and Hindi. UIDAI said it plans to expand this to 23 languages.
The redesigned platform also introduces the UIDAI Career Portal, allowing candidates to apply online for deputation opportunities and providing a streamlined application process.
The initiatives were presented as part of UIDAI’s ongoing efforts to expand Aadhaar usage, strengthen authentication, improve enrolment and update services, and address emerging technology and privacy requirements.