The Central Government has launched new technological upgrades in Aadhaar to make it more secure by preventing identity-related fraud and protecting citizens’ data. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the authority to provide Aadhaar numbers in India, has introduced a two-layered security mechanism.
The UIDAI launched a security mechanism for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication and quicker detection of spoofing attempts. Spoofing attempts mean that someone or something pretends to be someone else to gain the victim’s confidence, get access to their systems, and steal data.
According to the UIDAI, the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (ML/AI) based security mechanism will use a combination of ‘finger image and finger minutia’ to check the liveliness of the captured fingerprint. The two-layer/factor authentication will be an add-on check to authenticate the genuineness of the fingerprint to reduce spoofing attempts.
The new technological upgradation can benefit various sectors, like telecom, government, banking and financial sectors. It will curb malicious attempts by unscrupulous elements and strengthen the Aadhaar-enabled payment system.
The new security mechanism for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication is fully functional. There was constant due diligence and engagement of UIDAI with Authentication User Agencies (AUAs) to inform them about the benefits of the new security system.
AUAs provide Aadhaar-enabled services to Aadhaar holders using authentication facilitated by the service agencies. Sub-AUAs use Aadhaar authentication to enable their services through the existing requesting entities.
Currently, the UIDAI and the regional offices are in contact with all entities facilitating any user agency to switch to the new secured authentication mode as soon as possible. There is an upward trend in adopting Aadhaar-based authentication transactions, which has proved to be a facilitator in availing of many welfare services and benefits. A cumulative number of Aadhaar authentication transactions crossed 88.29 billion by December 2022, clocking 70 billion average daily transactions. Most of them are fingerprint-based authentications, indicative of usage and utility in daily lives.
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I am an Advocate by profession. I interpret laws and put them in simple words. I love to explore and try new things in life.
