Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to each resident of the country. It is one of the most important documents that must be submitted in order to be eligible for various government schemes and benefits. Aadhaar is also required to complete the KYC process and other related services. It also serves as proof of identity, making it essential for every individual to possess one.
The primary goal of an Aadhaar card is to promote and provide Indian citizens with reliable, transparent, and exemplary government services. An Aadhaar card is generated using the user’s demographic information and biometric data. It is allotted to the individual only after all the data is verified and confirmed as unique among all other citizens’ data.
Beyond these initial details, several key features of an Aadhaar card are explained below.
What are the features of an Aadhaar card?
Listed below are the features of an Aadhaar card and what makes it unique among other legal documents, such as a PAN card.
Unique
All Aadhaar numbers are unique because they are generated using the applicant’s demographic information as well as biometric data such as an iris scan, fingerprints, and a photograph. Crucially, an applicant’s biometric data can never match the biometric data of another individual, thereby eliminating the possibility of duplication.
The de-duplication process to generate an Aadhaar number compares the applicant’s demographic information and biometric data with the available records in the UIDAI database. This process verifies whether the applicant’s details are already recorded in the database. The Aadhaar number is only generated once the applicant’s information is confirmed as unique. Applicants can enroll for an Aadhaar only once; any subsequent enrollment attempts are rejected.
What makes Aadhaar Unique – It is generated only after verifying the applicant’s demographic and biometric details with the existing records in the UIDAI database.
Portable
An Aadhaar card can be used to authenticate online transactions anywhere in the country. This feature allows users to move from one state to another without needing to update their addresses or other details, as their Aadhaar remains valid nationwide.
What makes Aadhaar Portable – Aadhaar is a legal document that is accepted nationwide, including for online transactions.
Random number
Aadhaar numbers are generated without obtaining details such as an applicant’s religion, income, caste, health, or geography. It is a number that is generated at random and is devoid of any inherent classification. To obtain an Aadhaar number, an applicant must only provide his or her demographic information and biometric data during the enrollment process.
What makes Aadhaar a Random Number – The Aadhaar number lacks inherent classification and does not take into account details such as the applicant’s religion, caste, health status, or geography.
Scalable Technology Architecture
The UID architecture is designed to be scalable and open. All of an applicant’s demographic and biometric data is stored centrally and can be authenticated from anywhere in the country. The Aadhaar authentication service is designed to manage and process at least 100 million authentications per day.
What makes the UID Architecture Scalable – The UID architecture is designed to handle approximately 100 million authentications per day, with all demographic and biometric data stored centrally.
Open Source Technologies
The UIDAI’s open-source architecture is designed in such a way that it does not rely on a specific storage system, operating system, computer hardware, database vendor, or any specific vendor technologies, ensuring broad compatibility and scalability. The application is built using open-source or open technologies and is designed to be vendor-neutral to ensure scalability. It also allows heterogeneous hardware to coexist within the same application.
What makes it an Open-Source Architecture – The UIDAI architecture is designed to be vendor-agnostic, not relying on specific types of storage systems, computer hardware, databases, or other proprietary technologies.
What is the difference between an e-Aadhaar and a physical Aadhaar card?
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