UIDAI Notifies New Rules for Aadhar Authentication

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

In News

• Recently, MeitY has notified the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Amendment Rules, 2025 under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. 

Key Highlights of the 2025 Amendment

• Expansion of Aadhaar Authentication Scope: Allows government and non-government entities to use Aadhaar authentication for specific public interest services.
  • Expands to e-commerce, travel, tourism, hospitality, and healthcare sectors, ensuring seamless access to services beyond government initiatives.
• Enhancing Ease of Living & Service Delivery: Aadhaar authentication will improve service accessibility for residents, reducing bureaucracy and delays.
  • Ensures trusted transactions between service providers and users.
• Approval Process for Aadhaar Authentication Requests: Entities must submit an application to the concerned ministry or department through a dedicated portal.
  • The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will examine applications and provide recommendations.

Significance of the Amendments

• Promotes innovation by enabling digital transformation through Aadhaar-based solutions.
• Boosts knowledge dissemination and access to essential services. 
• Strengthens collaboration between the government and private sector for efficient service delivery. 
• Ensures regulatory oversight, maintaining privacy and security standards.

Know About Aadhar 

• Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) (established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016) to residents of India.
• Aadhaar is based on biometric and demographic data. Each Aadhaar number is unique to an individual, preventing duplication and ensuring accuracy.
• Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship.

Legal Framework of Aadhaar

• Section 7 of Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016: Government may require Aadhaar for accessing benefits, subsidies, and services funded by the Consolidated Fund of India or States.
• Supreme Court Ruling on Aadhaar (2018): Aadhaar is constitutional but not mandatory for private services like bank accounts, mobile numbers, or school admissions.
• Aadhaar metadata retention: UIDAI cannot store authentication data beyond six months.
• Aadhaar and Privacy: The Right to Privacy (2017) Puttaswamy judgment reaffirmed that Aadhaar data must be secured and not misused.

Source: TH