New Delhi, 8 April 2025: Aadhaar card is going to get smarter now. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has added face authentication feature to it, so that now neither hard copy nor soft copy will be required to verify your identity. Just a smartphone and your face—that’s enough. This new way of proving identity at a hotel, college or any other place is a great combination of technology and convenience. Although this feature is currently in beta testing, it is expected to be available to the general public soon.

How will face authentication work?

Under this new feature of UIDAI, you will be able to verify Aadhaar by scanning your face with your smartphone. For this, you have to download the new Aadhaar app on your phone. Following the steps given in the app, on scanning the face, the necessary information of the person concerned will appear on the screen. This process will be so easy that it can be understood like UPI payment.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav praised it and said, “Just like UPI made transactions simple, this feature will make Aadhaar authentication easy and fast. Smartphone is now going to become the strongest companion of your identity.” He stressed that this technology can bring revolutionary changes in the lives of common people.

Promise of privacy and security

Many times there was a fear of leaking of personal information by giving a copy of the Aadhaar card. But face authentication claims to remove this concern. A UIDAI official said, “With this facility, your personal information will not be shared with everyone. After the face is scanned, only the necessary data will come out for verification, and that too in a secure manner.”

This means that now you will not need to give a photocopy of Aadhaar or share its number. Rahul Sharma, a student from Delhi, heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Every time in the hostel, they used to ask for a copy of Aadhaar. Many times there was a fear that it might be misused. Now this new method will really help.”

Why is this change necessary?

In the last few years, Aadhaar card has become the biggest means of identification in the country. But along with this, reports of its misuse have also surfaced. This step of face authentication will not only strengthen security, but will also eliminate the paper process. Tech expert Anil Mehta says, “This is a big step towards Digital India. With the increase in the reach of smartphones, this technology will be accessible to everyone.” However, the feature is still in the testing phase. UIDAI clarified that its accuracy and security will be thoroughly checked before making it available to the general public. An official said, “We do not want to rush. It will be launched only after beta testing.” People’s expectations and challenges People are excited about this new feature, but there are some questions too. Preeti Kadam, a housewife from Mumbai, expressed happiness and said, “If it is really so easy, then time will be saved in bank and government work.” At the same time, some people are worried about internet connectivity and availability of smartphones. Ramesh Yadav, who lives in rural areas, raised the question, “It is fine in cities, but there is a problem of network in our villages. How will it work in such a situation?”

Experts believe that its success will depend on the reach of smartphones and digital literacy. Technology analyst Rita Saxena says, “This feature can be an instant hit in urban areas, but the government will have to work on the infrastructure to reach it to rural India.”

What’s next?

At present, Aadhaar’s face authentication is in beta version, and its full launch may take a few months. UIDAI is trying to make it as popular as UPI, so that every smartphone user can use it easily. If this experiment is successful, it will not only make identity verification easy, but will also reduce security concerns related to Aadhaar.

So if you have a smartphone, be ready—soon your face will be the biggest proof of your identity.