UIDAI to Launch Revamped Aadhaar App with Facial Recognition for Seamless ID Verification

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New Delhi, April 9: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is set to launch a brand-new Aadhaar mobile application that promises to make identity verification faster, more secure, and paperless. Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the development during the Aadhaar Samvaad event held in Delhi on Tuesday.

The upcoming app, currently in the testing phase, features a revamped design compared to the existing mAadhaar application. Most notably, it introduces a cutting-edge facial recognition capability, allowing users to verify their identity without needing to hand over a physical Aadhaar card or photocopy. This innovation will help Aadhaar holders securely share their data with hotels, airports, and other requesting entities through simple digital means.

Instead of presenting a physical ID, users can scan a QR code at a service location and use their smartphone to perform facial authentication. The process involves the user looking into their front camera and blinking to confirm their identity. The app then verifies their credentials securely with the Aadhaar database, eliminating the need for document handling.

This technology is not entirely new. UIDAI has already deployed facial recognition for Aadhaar-based identity verification through an app called AadhaarFaceRD. That app, however, is limited to specific Know Your Customer (KYC) use cases triggered by authorized agencies. It also requires QR code initiation followed by a blink-based facial scan.

While fingerprint and OTP-based Aadhaar authentications remain dominant with over 8 crore transactions happening daily facial authentication is gaining traction. According to UIDAI, cumulative facial authentications have already crossed the 15-crore mark, signaling growing acceptance and technological maturity.

UIDAI stated that the new Aadhaar app is currently accessible only to a closed group of early adopters, which includes all registered participants of the Aadhaar Samvaad event. “Based on the feedback received from users and ecosystem partners, UIDAI will soon make it accessible to all,” a statement from the authority confirmed.

This initiative is expected to significantly enhance digital convenience, reduce risks associated with physical document handling, and boost security in everyday identification processes across India.

The full-scale public rollout of the new Aadhaar app is expected in the coming weeks, following the completion of testing and refinements based on early user feedback.