Aadhaar Card Authentication: What is it and How Does it Work?

Last Updated : Jan. 2, 2025, 4:01 p.m.

Many government schemes in India only accept the Aadhaar Card as an identity and address document. However, they must authenticate the information on your Aadhaar Card with the UIDAI, which stores all identity-related information in the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR). During the Aadhaar Card Authentication Process, institutions send the information you provided on your Aadhaar to CIDR for verification. CIDR then responds with either "Yes" or "No" to the institution, indicating whether the information matches the data they have on file. This process is known as Aadhaar Authentication. The purpose is to verify whether the information on the Aadhaar Card matches the data in CIDR. If CIDR responds with "No," the information on the Aadhaar is deemed not authentic.

Need for Authenticating Aadhaar

Sometimes, individuals provide false details to access benefits from government schemes. It is challenging for institutions to authenticate documents online, whether they are passports or driving licenses. Therefore, UIDAI offers the facility to authenticate Aadhaar details online by sending them to CIDR (Central Identities Data Repository). The CIDR matches the details provided by institutions against its database and responds with "Yes" or "No." CIDR does not disclose any personal information about the Aadhaar cardholder. The authentication process concludes once CIDR has responded, thus determining the authenticity of the Aadhaar Card .

How Does Aadhaar Card Authentication Work?

UIDAI provides Aadhaar authentication services upon request. In this process, a requesting entity sends an electronic request to the authority. The authority verifies whether the individual's submitted information corresponds with their database. If it matches, the response is "Yes"; if not, it is "No." Importantly, no personal details of the individual are revealed in the response.

Note: The authority will only process requests that comply with the established rules and criteria. An individual’s Aadhaar number or the authentication process should not be considered proof of citizenship or residence.

What are the Types of Aadhaar Authentication Check?

There are several types of Aadhaar authentication that institutions may use:

1. Aadhaar Demographic Details Authentication: Demographic details such as name, address, gender, and date of birth are present on the Aadhaar Card. If an institution sends these details to CIDR for verification, it is known as Demographic Details Authentication. A mismatch between the institution-provided information and the CIDR database will result in a failed authentication.

2. Aadhaar Biometric Authentication: In biometric authentication, a person is identified using unique biological characteristics. These can include fingerprints, voice patterns, DNA, or the patterns in their retina and iris. For Aadhaar authentication, service agencies and other entities use either the iris or fingerprint data of an individual to verify their identity. During this process, the Aadhaar number and the biometric data provided by the individual are checked against the data stored in the CIDR to confirm if they match.

3. Authentication through OTP: Linking services or bank accounts to your Aadhaar Card involves OTP-Based Authentication. Aadhaar OTP verification method uses an OTP sent to your registered mobile number to authenticate the Aadhaar Card.

4. Multiple Authentication: Using all available authentication methods together to verify all details of an Aadhaar is known as Multiple Authentication. This multi-factor authentication approach involves both biometric and demographic verification.

What are the Benefits of Aadhaar Authentication?

Your Aadhaar number holds both your demographic and biometric details. This feature of the Aadhaar card helps various public and private organizations carry out the Aadhaar authentication process. This process not only provides a high level of security but also offers several other benefits. Here are a few of them:

Streamlines Identity Verification: Aadhaar validation online reduces the need for multiple identity documents like PAN cards, passports, and driving licenses. By using a single Aadhaar number, which holds both demographic and biometric information, the process of verifying an individual's identity becomes much simpler and faster.

Enhances Security: It ensures a high level of security in verifying identities, crucial for both government and private transactions. This reduces the risk of identity fraud and helps in maintaining accurate records.

Facilitates Access to Services: With Aadhaar card authentication, individuals can easily access a variety of services and government subsidies by proving their eligibility through a simple and efficient verification process.

Supports Digital Transactions: Aadhaar is integral to safe digital transactions. It authenticates financial transactions through platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the BHIM app, providing a secure method to validate payments and transfers.

Improves Resource Allocation: By accurately identifying eligible beneficiaries, Aadhaar authentication helps in directing government resources and benefits to those who truly need them, preventing misuse and fraud.

Controls Access to Restricted Areas: Aadhaar can be used to enhance security in sensitive locations like airports and banks by allowing only authenticated individuals to enter certain high-security zones.

Conclusion

Understanding the workings of Aadhaar Card Authentication and its necessity is crucial. Due to numerous fraudulent activities nationwide, it is mandatory to authenticate Aadhaar before accepting it as valid identity and address proof.