Aadhaar Authentication is a process in which Aadhaar Number, along with the other attributes which includes biometrics are submitted to UIDAI’s Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) for verification. The CIDR verifies whether the data submitted matches the data which is available in the CIDR or verification on the basis of information or check the documents which were submitted by the individual. Aadhaar authentication provides so many ways in which a resident can authenticate himself with help of the system. At the high level authentication will be the Demographic Authentication or the Biometric authentication. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been created with the mandate of providing a unique identity number or the Aadhaar number to the all residents of India and also defining the usages of the Aadhaar card or the Aadhaar number and also the applicability of Aadhaar for delivery of various services. UIDAI proposes to provide online authentication using demographic and biometric data.
The main benefit and purpose of the Authentication is that Aadhar card holder himself proves his/her identity and for the services providers it confirms to them the real identity of benefit taker i.e. they are proving the services to the actual needy or real users. During the Aadhaar authentication process first step is to record the individual information like demographic/biometric information and that data will be checked or verified by matching it to the stored data, which is given by the individual during the enrollment or the update process or at the time of registration process. Aadhaar authentication services provide services to instantly verify the identity of the resident against the available data in CIDR. Based on the needs of the services different – different identifiers could be used along with the Aadhaar number or with the Aadhaar card. These identifiers could be a combination of biometrics which includes fingerprints and iris impressions and also the demographic information such as Name, Date of birth, Address and the secret PIN or OTP number which is only known by the resident only.
Benefits of the Aadhaar authentication Process linked to Biometric Details of Individual
- Establishing the identity
- Improving Efficiency
- Transparency in Service Delivery
- Demographic verification (Name, Address)