Launch Of New Aadhar Governance Portal

LAUNCH OF NEW AADHAR GOVERNANCE PORTAL

Introduction of the Aadhaar Governance Portal:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched a new Aadhaar Governance Portal (http://swik.meity.gov.in) to streamline the process of approval for Aadhaar authentication requests.

OBJECTIVES

• The portal aims to simplify governance processes and enhance citizen-centric services by making Aadhaar authentication more efficient.
• It is part of ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and ease of living for citizens.

Legal Framework:

• The portal follows the recent amendments to the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2025, under the Aadhaar Act of 2016.
• These amendments are intended to support good governance and enhance the delivery of welfare services and benefits.
• Benefits of the Portal:
  • The platform will expedite the inclusion of new use cases in governance, improving access to essential services for citizens.
  • It is designed to simplify the process for both government and private entities seeking Aadhaar authentication approval.

• Impact on Service Delivery:
  • The portal is expected to make services in various sectors, such as healthcare, education, e-commerce, and hospitality, more accessible and efficient.
  • It will also facilitate Aadhaar-based services like staff attendance, customer onboarding, and e-KYC verification.
• Features of the Portal:
  • The portal offers a step-by-step guide to help entities apply for Aadhaar authentication approval and onboard smoothly.
  • Face authentication may also be integrated into customer-facing apps, enabling easy, anytime authentication.

WHAT IS AADHAR?

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit random number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• It is provided to residents of India after undergoing a verification process set by the UIDAI.
• Eligibility and Enrollment:
  • Any resident of India, irrespective of age or gender, can voluntarily enrol for Aadhaar.
  • The enrollment process is free and requires minimal demographic and biometric information.
  • An individual needs to enrol only once.
  • The uniqueness of the Aadhaar is ensured through demographic and biometric de-duplication, meaning only one Aadhaar number will be generated per person
• Biometric Information Required:
  • Ten fingerprints, Two iris scans, and a facial photograph.
• Aadhaar Features:
  • Aadhaar is verifiable online in a cost-effective
  • The number is unique and robust enough to eliminate duplicates and fake identities.
  • It serves as a basis for rolling out several government welfare schemes and programs, thus promoting transparency and good governance.
  • Aadhaar is a proof of identity but does not confer rights such as citizenship or domicile.
• Aadhaar and Governance:
  • Aadhaar acts as a strategic policy tool for social and financial inclusion, public sector delivery reforms, and fiscal management.
  • It enhances convenience and supports people-centric governance.
  • The system facilitates financial inclusion for underprivileged sections and promotes distributive justice and equality.
• Global Recognition:
  • The Aadhaar program is the largest biometric-based identification system
  • It plays a vital role in the Digital India initiative, providing every resident with a unique identity.
• Impact on Service Delivery:
  • Aadhaar serves as a permanent financial address, enabling the direct delivery of subsidies, benefits, and services to residents using just the Aadhaar number.
  • It plays a significant role in promoting efficiency in governance and ensuring effective service delivery.

ABOUT UIDAI

• UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) is a statutory authority established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• It was created on 12th July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The Aadhaar Act, 2016 was later amended by the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, effective from 25th July 2019.

Objectives of UIDAI:

• UIDAI’s primary objective is to issue Unique Identification Numbers (UIDs), known as Aadhaar, to all residents of India.
• The Aadhaar number must be:
  • Robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities.
  • Verifiable and authenticable in an easy, cost-effective way.

Aadhaar Numbers Issued:

• As of 29th September 2023, UIDAI has issued 08 crore Aadhaar numbers to residents across India.

Responsibilities of UIDAI:

• Aadhaar enrolment and authentication: Managing all stages of the Aadhaar lifecycle, including issuing Aadhaar numbers and performing authentication.
• Policy and system development: Developing policies, procedures, and systems to manage Aadhaar issuance.
• Security: Ensuring the security of identity information and authentication records of individuals.

Historical Background:

• March 3, 2006: The project ‘Unique Identification for BPL Families’ was approved by the Department of Information Technology.
• July 3, 2006: A Processes Committee was formed to design the process for creating the Unique Identification database.
• November 26, 2006: The Strategic Vision Document for Unique Identification of residents was prepared.
• December 4, 2006: The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) was set up to collate data for the National Population Register and the Unique Identification Number project.

Evolution of UIDAI:

• Before becoming a statutory authority, UIDAI functioned as an attached office of the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) from 28th January 2009.
• The first Aadhaar number was issued on 29th September 2010 to a resident in Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
• On 12th September 2015, the Government revised the Allocation of Business Rules to place UIDAI under the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY).

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