What is UIDAI Number

What is UIDAI?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was established in January 2009 by the Planning Commission with a vision to provide a unique identity to individuals and a platform to digitally authenticate their identity anywhere and at any given point of time.  The aim was to provide better welfare services to the residents of India. Another purpose of formulating this was to act as an overseeing entity to monitor a wide range of governmental schemes and programs.

UIDAI is an agency set up to collect demographic and biometric data of the residents such as their photograph, fingerprints, and iris scans and storing them at a centralized place for identification purposes. It’s the world’s largest project for National Identification Number.

Services Provided by the UIDAI 

For all the issues related to Aadhaar, the UIDAI provides both online and offline services to the residents of the country. The online service facilitates easy emission of important information like :

• Checking UIDAI enrolment centre locations

• Checking status of his/her Aadhaar

• Update his/her UIDAI Aadhaar data online at the official website

• Download Aadhaar

• Retrieve lost UID/EID

The offline services allow everyone to visit the enrolment centres authorised by UIDAI to check his/her Aadhaar data or even voice their issues and concerns.

Other services provided by UIDAI include:

• Verify Email/Mobile Number: An Aadhaar number holder’s registered mobile number is essential to access Aadhaar online services along with Aadhaar enabled benefits. Residents can verify their already registered email address and mobile number.

• Verify Aadhaar Number: This will enable service providers and Aadhaar number holders to facilitate verification if the Aadhaar number is valid and is not deactivated.

• Check Aadhaar & Bank Account Linking Status: Aadhaar holders can verify if their Aadhaar is linked to their bank account. Aadhaar Linking status is fetched from the NPCI Server. Under any circumstances, UIDAI shall not be responsible or liable for the correctness of the displayed status. Furthermore, UIDAI is not storing any information fetched from NPCI server.

• Aadhaar Paperless Local e-KYC : In order to limit data sharing, as per the requirements of the Supreme Court, UIDAI introduced the 'Aadhaar Paperless Local e-KYC'. This is an offline mode of identity verification where an individual can choose the Aadhaar related details that he/she wishes to share for identification. This means that an individual is not required to share either their biometric details or their Aadhaar number if he/she does not wish to do so.

• Lock/Unlock Biometrics: Aadhaar holders also have the option to secure their biometric authentication by locking their biometrics. Once locked, the same cannot be used by anyone for authentication, and is a much needed safety feature. Individuals can unlock their biometrics before any biometric authentications transaction.

• Aadhaar Authentication History: Aadhaar holders can also view details of their Aadhaar authentication online on UIDAI’s website.

• Virtual ID (VID) Generator: UIDAI has also made available to Aadhaar holders the Virtual ID (VID) generation service that enables individuals, who are not comfortable with providing their Aadhaar number online for authentication and verification purposes, to generate a 16 digit VID that can be used in the place of the Aadhaar number. This 16 digit code is revocable by the Aadhaar holder at any pointy in time.

 

Features of the UIDAI Model

The main features of the UIDAI model are:

• Focus on the underprivileged:  The prime focus of the UIDAI model is on the underprivileged and economically backward communities of the country. It aims to bring the majority of the underprivileged sections of society under the UID scheme so as to enhance delivery of the various Government welfare services to the less privileged.

• Resident Enrolment with a thorough and bona fide verification process : The UIDAI Authority has chalked out a plan to conduct registration of Indian residents by accessing their biometric and demographic details before entering them into the databases. This is done in order to avoid instances of fraud and duplication within the database of UIDAI.

• Responsibility as a partner : Agencies like the state and central departments as well as a few from the private sector will act as registrars for the UIDAI. The UIDAI is tasked with collaborating with them.

• Flexibility : The model also ensures flexibility as far as issuance of cards, verification, collection of data, processing, etc., is concerned.

• Zero duplication : The model focuses on avoiding redundancy within the database to avoid any clashing of data. Given the scale of operations, this is a necessary feature.

• Authentication via online means : The UIDAI ensures that there are strict online authentication rights where the access and comparison of resident’s demographic and biometric data is concerned. Further, only those designated agencies have the access to this information.

• Security of Information : The UIDAI ensures that all data collated within the database will be safe and secure through the use of the latest technology systems.

 

Vision of the UIDAI 

To empower residents of India with a unique identity as well as a digital platform to authenticate the same, anytime, anywhere.

Mission of the UIDAI

The UIDAI was established with a Mission to:

• Collaborate with partners and create a convincing infrastructure to the Indian residents to authenticate and update their digital identity.

• Deliver Aadhaar to every Indian resident, and to have stringent quality matrices and turnaround time.

• Serve residents as equitably, efficiently and effectively as can be done by collaborating with the service providers.

• Build a long-term organization that doesn’t only work for now, but that can sustain and carry forward the values and vision of the UIDAI.

• Gain valuable insight to UIDAI organization by making Aadhaar as attractive as possible so that the best global expertise in different fields collaborate with them.

• Encourage private agencies as well as public ones to develop applications linked with Aadhaar by providing a platform to them.

• Ensure resilience, scalability and availability of technical infrastructure.

 

Core Values of UIDAI    

• Belief in facilitating good governance for all.

• Valuing integrity.

• Commitment to inclusive nation building.

• UIDAI pursues a collaborative approach and values their partners.

• UIDAI strives towards excellence in services provided to residents and service providers alike.

• The prime focus is on continuous learning and quality improvements.

• UIDAI is driven by innovation and provides a platform for their partners to innovate.

• Complete belief in a transparent and open organization.

 

Role of the UIDAI 

The main roles of the UIDAI are as follows:

• Issuing of Aadhaar to Indian residents.

• Utilizing the assistance of service providers to assist with the development, design and deployment of Aadhaar applications.

• Establishing fixed standards with regard to the enrolment of residents as well as the authentication process.

• Recruitment of Registrars and providing approval to agencies dealing with resident enrolment among other things.

• Improving and enhancing the objectives of the scheme by providing assistance in terms of service creation dependent on authentication of Aadhaar.

 

Search UIS or EID by Name 

Aadhaar or Unique Identity Number (UID) is a 12-digit number based on biometrics-related information. Whereas, an Enrolment ID (EID) or Aadhaar enrolment ID is issued at the time of submission of an Aadhaar letter or Aadhaar application.

One does not need worry if they have forgotten their Aadhaar Number (UID) or Enrolment Number (EID), as the Indian Government has introduced various solutions that helps finding or recovering this information online, easily.

One can simply search their UID or EID by Name. To do so, they have to follow a few simple steps.
 

Step 1: Log on to the Resident Portal of UIDAI where various online services are available to the public and then click on ‘Find UID/EID’.



Step 2: Select UID or EID on the 'Retrieve Lost UID/EID' option.

Step 3: Enter details such as your name, mobile number and email ID as mentioned in the Aadhaar enrolment form and the Aadhaar card.

Step 4: Next, the residents will be required to choose anyone of these two options – a) Retrieve Aadhaar Number (UID) or b) Retrieve Aadhaar Enrolment Number (EID).

Step 5: The next step would be to click on ‘Get OTP’. Enter the same for verification.

Step 6: After the successful verification of the registered contact details, Aadhaar card holders will receive their lost Aadhar UID on the medium they had chosen in STEP 3.

Step 7: An email or SMS containing the EID or UID details will be sent on your registered email ID or contact number. You will receive the details via SMS on your registered mobile number as well.

UIDAI has appointed a Registrar who has various agencies under his control that are entitled to enroll Indian residents for Aadhaar. The Registrar has the authority to recognize individuals for enrolling. According to the guidance of the Registrar and enrolment agencies, the enrolment centre is set up so that individuals may enroll with UIDAI to get their UID. The enrolment agency authorized by the Registrar collects the biometric and demographic data of individuals throughout the enrolment process with the help of assigned supervisors and operators.

All the equipment such as the iris scanner, the fingerprint scanner and the camera are the main components used at the enrolment agencies. They are certified by UIDAI and STQC. All of them work in coordination to connect to the Application Programming Interphase. All of the service providers, enrollers and the Registrar coordinate amongst themselves to create a healthy environment for them to work.

The UIDAI is obligated to protect the confidentiality and security of the residents’ information thus collected. The software used to collect all such information has to be encrypted to prevent any sort of leakage in transit. It also has a comprehensive and elaborate security policy to keep the data safe and integral. Security and storage protocols are in place and all the guidelines in this regard are mentioned on the UIDAI website.

Penalties for disclosure of information and security violation by any party are severe. The database of children below 5 years of age is not maintained on biometric and demographic basis. In fact even the photograph is not taken but they are linked to their parents UID. However, after reaching the age of five the photograph, fingerprints and iris scan shall be updated on the Aadhaar, and again at the age of 15, the data needs to be updated. The complete procedure is mentioned on the Aadhaar letter sent with the Aadhaar card to all Indian residents. This is done keeping in mind various safety features to protect the data and the individuals of the country.