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Five initiatives unveiled to strengthen trusted digital identity and citizen-centric governance
Pooja Srivastava / Anytime News Network
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has unveiled five major initiatives aimed at strengthening trusted digital identity, improving citizen convenience and reinforcing technology-driven governance at ‘Aadhaar Samvad Kolkata’.
Held on the occasion of the 17th Aadhaar Day, the stakeholder conference brought together more than 600 senior policymakers, industry leaders, technology experts and innovators to deliberate on the future of Aadhaar and its expanding role in public service delivery.
Aadhaar as a growth pillar
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada said Aadhaar has emerged as an important component of India’s development journey. He highlighted its contribution to financial inclusion, efficient delivery of government services and ensuring that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.
Face authentication for ePDS
One of the key initiatives is Face Authentication for the Electronic Public Distribution System (ePDS), developed jointly by UIDAI, the Department of Food and Public Distribution and the National Informatics Centre.
The consent-based, contactless facility will provide beneficiaries with another method of proving their identity, particularly in situations where fingerprint authentication may be difficult.
Faster approval route
UIDAI also launched SWIK Portal 2.0, designed to simplify the process of obtaining Aadhaar authentication approval under the framework for Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance. Eligible non-government entities can submit proposals directly to the concerned ministry or department through the portal.
Lighter authentication framework
The new Sub-AUA/Sub-KUA (Lite) Framework will enable eligible government and non-government entities with low-volume authentication requirements to use existing AUA/KUA authentication infrastructure. This can reduce the need to build independent infrastructure while enabling faster onboarding.
Token management introduced
UIDAI has also introduced a Token Management System to make access to applicable services at its state and regional offices more convenient for residents.
A redesigned digital gateway
The new UIDAI website was launched by Minister of State Jitin Prasada. Designed around four major citizen needs—understanding Aadhaar, accessing services, finding documents and seeking assistance—the redesigned platform places greater emphasis on simplicity and accessibility.
It incorporates screen-reader compatibility, adjustable font sizes, improved colour contrast and keyboard navigation, making Aadhaar-related information more accessible, including for persons with disabilities.
Multilingual access
With Bhashini integration, the website currently supports 13 languages, with plans to expand to 23. A new UIDAI career portal has also been introduced, enabling online applications for deputation opportunities through a more transparent process.
The initiatives underline UIDAI’s effort to make India’s digital identity ecosystem more secure, accessible, flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of citizens.
