Aadhaar Vision 2032: UIDAI begins major strategic and tech review to ‘shape future of digital ID’

Aadhaar was recently at the centre of controversy after the Election Commission (EC) initially refused to allow it as an identification document during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of Bihar Assembly polls. This led to fears of large-scale exclusion as many in Bihar were unable to obtain and submit the documents allowed by the EC. The Supreme Court then directed the EC to add the Aadhaar to the list of 11 documents that could be used for identification to be included in the final electoral roll.

When the EC announced SIR in 12 states and Union Territories in October, Aadhaar was included in the list of identification documents.

Why is Aadhaar review underway?

In a Press Information Bureau document released Friday, UIDAI said the review is being conducted to create a “forward-looking roadmap”. This, it said, will strengthen Aadhaar’s “technological foundation, integrate emerging digital innovations, and ensure that India’s digital identity platform remains robust, inclusive, and future-ready”.

As part of this review and roadmap creation exercise, UIDAI’s technology stack, the backbone of Aadhaar services and which works as a facilitator of India’s digital economy, is set for a major upgrade.

Why is Aadhaar important?

Aadhaar is a 12-digit universal identity proof that is required for everything from getting a ration card to a mobile sim. If one needs to apply for a loan or create a rent agreement, the Aadhaar card is a key document. In fact, Aadhaar also allows citizens to get access to other government services and documentary proofs, such as while getting government aid and as address proof. It is mandatory to link your Aadhaar card with your PAN card. An Aadhaar card is a must for filing income-tax returns and after the latest update, only Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts can benefit from the early-booking Tatkal window for train tickets.

So far, 142.7 crore Aadhaar numbers have been generated in India.

How to get Aadhaar?

To get your Aadhaar card by enrolling for a new one or to update your existing Aadhaar card, you can book an appointment online at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra near you. Go to the uidai website and navigate to the ‘Book an Appointment’ section and fill in the details. You can use this service for the following:

• Fresh Aadhaar enrolment
• Name Update
• Address Update
• Mobile No. Update
• Email ID Update
• Date of Birth Update
• Gender Update
• Biometric (Photo + Fingerprints + Iris) Update

After inputting your city/location, you can choose to book an appointment at an UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra or a Registrar run Aadhaar Seva Kendra.

For Aadhaar enrolment and updating, you can also refer to the following document released by the UIDAI.

List of Supporting Document for Aadhaar Enrolment and Update by swapnil.joglekar

Who is part of high-level Aadhaar review expert committee?

Neelkanth Mishra, the chairperson, of UIDAI will also play the role of the chairperson of the high-level expert committee, which will include eminent experts and leaders from academia, industry, and administration. These people will put their energies together to provide “strategic direction on strengthening Aadhaar’s innovation roadmap”.

The committee includes

• Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI
• Vivek Raghavan, Co-Founder of Sarvam AI
• Dheeraj Pandey, Founder of Nutanix
• Sasikumar Ganesan, Head of Engineering, MOSIP
• Rahul Matthan, Partner, Trilegal
• Navin Budhiraja, CTO & Head of Products, Vianai Systems
• Dr Prabaharan Poornachandran, Professor at Amrita University
• Anil Jain, Professor at Michigan State University
• Mayank Vatsa, Professor at IIT Jodhpur
• Abhishek Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General, UIDAI

What is the Aadhaar Vision 2032 document?

The high-level committee will develop the Aadhaar Vision 2032 document.

This document will outline the framework for “next-generation Aadhaar architecture” that will align with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, and emerging global standards of privacy and cybersecurity.

The Aadhaar Vision 2032 framework will focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Advanced Encryption, and next-generation Data Security mechanisms.

These technologies will ensure Aadhaar remains resilient in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats, is scalable for future demand, and adaptive to the rapidly changing digital landscape.

“The Vision 2032 roadmap is not only about sustaining technological leadership but also about reinforcing Aadhaar’s role as a secure, inclusive, and people-centric digital identity,” the release added.

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