Aadhaar facial transactions reach all time high at 10.6 million in May: Govt
The face authentication transactions are currently used by 47 entities, including state government departments, ministries in the Central government and banks
Aadhaar-based face authentication transactions for service delivery hit a record high of 10.6 million in May since its launch in October 2021, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said on Thursday.
UIDAI is a statutory body of the government of India that creates and issues a unique 12-digit identification number – Aadhaar to all Indian citizens.
“This is the second consecutive month to register more than 10 million face authentication transactions. The number of face authentication transactions is on an upward trajectory and the monthly numbers clocked in May is an increase of 38% compared to transactions reported in January 2023, indicative of its growing usage,” it said.
The face authentication transactions are currently used by 47 entities, including state government departments, ministries in the Central government and banks.
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“Among many usages, it’s being used for registering beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and for authentication of beneficiaries in the PM Kisan scheme and for generating digital life certificates at home by pensioners. It is also used to mark staff attendance at several government departments and for opening bank accounts at a few leading banks via their business correspondents,” the statement further read.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit number that links to the biometric data of an individual, creating a unique identity. This identity is linked to the person’s bank details, phone number, government schemes and other financial services.
At present, over 300 government ministries and departments are allowed to use Aadhaar-based authentication. Out of the 1.3 billion people in India, only 95 million are yet to be registered for Aadhaar, according to the data provided by the Centre to the government to the Parliament in August last year.
Of the 95 million, 83 million are estimated to be children between the ages of 0-5 years, the government had informed. Aadhaar numbers are necessary to avail several of the government’s welfare schemes and services, but there have been periodic concerns over security issues.