To eliminate fake identities and ensure confidentiality of personal information, the Government of India introduced the Aadhaar card. Under Aadhaar Act, 2016, the Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) of India was set up to issue this identification document and its 12-digit Unique Identification Number.
UIDAI is a statutory authority headquartered in New Delhi that maintains and manages all stages of the Aadhaar card life cycle. It makes policies, collects verifiable biometric and demographic data, issues Aadhaar, and maintains a record of all cardholders.
The government set up UIDAI to issue 12-digit unique identification numbers for the following objectives:
Thus, UIDAI’s vision is to equip all Indians with a unique identity and provide a digital platform to facilitate hassle-free verification of their identities anywhere and anytime.
The government established UIDAI with a mission to fulfil the following goals:
UIDAI believes in the following core values:
UIDAI is an administrative body that devises various schemes and policies to maximise benefits provided to Aadhaar cardholders. Some of the key functions of UIDAI are as follows:
Also Read: How To Download an Aadhaar Card?
On UIDAI’s online portal, you can avail these services:
There are eight regional offices of UIDAI across India, covering different states.
Regional Office | States or Union Territories Covered |
Bengaluru | Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Naidu, Lakshadweep, Pondicherry |
Chandigarh | Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir |
New Delhi | Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan |
Hyderabad | Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha |
Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
Guwahati | Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur |
Mumbai | Maharashtra, Goa, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Gujarat |
Ranchi | Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal |
Also Read: All You Need To Know About Aadhaar Card Correction Form
UIDAI operates with a structural division to function effectively and fulfil its mission and vision. There are agencies and registrars within the ecosystem that perform different roles:
This is an entity that enrols individuals for Aadhaar and is authorised to do so by UIDAI. Registrars are usually State Government agencies or public sector undertakings. They are responsible for the roles and responsibilities assigned to them by UIDAI.
The role of registrars is to interact with residents, collect their information and register them for Aadhaar during their programmes and operations. They usually hire an enrolment agency. However, registrars can also undertake the entire enrolment process independently.
This is an agency hired by the registrar after verification and evaluation. With the help of a supervisor or operator, an enrollment agency collects the biometric and demographic information of individuals.
Moreover, these agencies set up enrolment centres and are responsible for correcting and regularly updating the database. For successful Aadhaar generation, an enrolment agency gets paid by the registrar.
The primary responsibility of the Finance & Accounts Division of UIDAI is to provide advice to the CEO of UIDAI on the financial implications of this body’s operations, schemes and policies.
Furthermore, this division engages in the following:
UIDAI was founded in 2009 and was a part of the planning commission (NITI Aayog) before it became a statutory authority. Now, this body is fully responsible for Aadhaar enrolment, management and authentication of all UIDs issued. Valuing the confidentiality of all cardholders, UIDAI collects information of all residents and stores it in a centralised system to make the identification process straightforward.
Ans: One of the services available on UIDAI’s online portal is to check the status of Aadhaar and bank account linking. This information is only regarding the status of this process and is only available for the last bank account linked with Aadhaar. For any previous account you have linked, you will have to check its status with the bank itself.
Ans: Virtual ID or VID is a 16-digit number that Aadhaar cardholders can use temporarily instead of their Aadhaar number. VID can be shared with institutions for e-KYC. To generate VID, you have to visit UIDAI’s official website and enter your Aadhaar card number.
Ans: UIDAI offers you the choice to lock or unlock your Aadhaar if you lose it. To do so, you have to go to UIDAI’s online portal and generate a 16-digit Virtual ID. Click on ‘Aadhaar Lock and Unlock Service’ and choose ‘Lock UID’ option. Then enter your Aadhaar card number, full name, PIN code and security code.
Ans: Currently, UIDAI can only store information in English, and the primary data entry also takes place in English. However, the body intends to make use of advancements in technology to story the information in all local languages.
Ans: Recently, UIDAI launched a new service, allowing cardholders to opt for reprinting of their existing Aadhaar card. This option is available on UIDAI’s online portal or its mobile app (mAadhaar). By paying a fee of Rs. 50, you can order a reprint and get it delivered to your registered address.
Disclaimer: Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.
This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information, and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.
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