Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification card that serves as proof of identity and address for Indian citizens. According to a press release, the use and adoption of Aadhaar cards have witnessed sizable growth over the past few years. In August, nearly 2.2 billion authentication transactions were carried out via Aadhaar, a growth of more than 44% against July 2022.
The majority of the monthly transaction numbers were carried out using fingerprint biometric authentication (about 1.3 billion), followed by demographic authentications, and OTP authentications. Further, as of the end of the month, a cumulative number of about 80.74 billion Aadhaar authentications were carried out, as against around 78.6 billion such authentications by the end of July.
The number of e-KYC transactions executed via Aadhaar was 234.5 million in August. The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions so far increased from 12.49 billion in July to 12.72 billion by end of August. An e-KYC transaction is authorised only with the explicit consent of the Aadhaar holder and eliminates physical paperwork and in-person verification requirements. Aadhaar e-KYC service is increasingly playing an important role for banking and non-banking financial services in providing better and transparent customer experience and ease of doing business, the release stated.
In August, citizens successfully updated 14.6 million Aadhaars, and cumulatively as of the end of August. 650 million Aadhaar numbers have been successfully updated following requests from citizens. These upgradation requests are related to demographic as well as biometric updates and are done at both physical Aadhaar centres, and by using the online Aadhaar platform.
The release claimed that whether it is e-KYC, Aadhaar enabled payment system (AEPS) for last mile banking, or Aadhaar enabled DBT, Aadhaar has been playing a significant role in supporting the Digital India initiative. Launched in 2015, the Digital India initiative is the government’s flagship programme, which aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
Aadhaar is a digital infrastructure for e-governance and a catalyst for ease of living and ease of doing business. The digital ID is helping various ministries and departments in the Centre and states to improve efficiency, transparency, and the delivery of welfare services to the targeted beneficiaries. Around 1,000 social welfare schemes in the country run by both the Centre and states have been notified to use Aadhaar.
Further, more than 15.2 billion last mile banking transactions have been made possible through the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), and the network of micro-ATMs so far, including nearly 220 million such transactions in August alone. It has enabled comprehensive financial inclusion.
At a recent Ministerial Roundtable at the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2022, the Indian government reiterated its commitment to a better digital future. The Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, said that the large-scale penetration of ICT in all aspects of life is leading to multidimensional changes in India and that the government has an “integrated approach” to facilitate a better and more inclusive digital future.
