India’s Aadhaar system now serves 1.36 billion users, leveraging AI to prevent fraud and blockchain for offline verification, while facing challenges in rural biometric reliability.
India’s Aadhaar program processes over 100 million daily face-authentication checks, with new blockchain pilots enabling offline verification for 500,000 villagers, as UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar announces domestic biometric systems to counter AI-powered threats.
Unprecedented Scale Meets Cutting-Edge Security
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) reported in June 2024 that Aadhaar’s facial recognition system now handles 100 million+ daily authentications, with AI models blocking 9.1 million suspicious transactions in May alone. Economic Times revealed on 25 June 2024 that these measures prevented ₹1,200 crore in potential fraud.
Blockchain Bridges Digital Divide
Since 24 June 2024, Rajasthan villagers participate in India’s first blockchain-based offline verification pilot. UIDAI’s decentralized system allows 500,000 residents without internet access to authenticate identities using local nodes, addressing connectivity gaps while maintaining Supreme Court-mandated privacy standards under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Biometric Exceptions Challenge Inclusion Goals
Despite expanding Aadhaar-enabled Payment Systems (AePS) to 50,000 new villages this month, UIDAI’s June data shows persistent 3.7% failure rates in fingerprint/iris scans among elderly and agricultural workers. A new voice-recognition trial launched in Odisha aims to create fallback authentication pathways.
Indigenous Tech Counteracts Global Risks
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar confirmed plans to deploy India’s first homegrown Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) by Q3 2025. This follows the 29 June 2024 partnership with IIT Delhi to develop quantum-resistant encryption, anticipating AI-driven security threats.
Historical Context: From Mobile Payments to AI Identity
Aadhaar’s DBT success builds on India’s 2010s mobile payment revolution, where platforms like UPI achieved 80% market penetration. However, the 2023 Assam National Register conflict demonstrated risks when 19% of legitimate claimants faced exclusion due to biometric exceptions.
Global Lessons in Digital Governance
While the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 advocates decentralized identity models, India’s centralized CIDR system has enabled ₹3.7 lakh crore in DBT savings since 2013. The tension between efficiency and inclusivity continues shaping digital identity debates worldwide.
