A lot has happened in India since the introduction of the Aadhaar unique ID (UID) number for its citizens under the Aadhaar Act of 2016. In this round up of recent activity on what is considered to be the most populated digital identity platform in the world, we take a look at the ways in which digital identity in India is improving the lives of millions of its citizens.
Before the introduction of Aadhaar, commercial and state organisations required clients to submit large numbers of physical documents to verify their identity. Using the Aadhaar system, individuals can provide their unique number and biometric information to complete the verification process in a matter of minutes.
The Government of India has also introduced a cloud-based platform, allowing citizens to securely store and share electronic versions of their documents. With DigiLocker, institutions and government agencies can directly verify documents, eliminating the need for physical submissions. From educational document verification to vehicle registration, DigiLocker has simplified processes while ensuring data security.
To further improve document verification, India has turned to blockchain technology. Its decentralised and tamper-proof digital ledger presents a powerful system that safeguards integrity. Storing encrypted document hashes on the blockchain helps to prevent alteration and forgery of important documents such as land records and educational certificates.
The Indian Government has introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which will require the use of Aadhaar numbers for birth certification.
India has taken the first step to generate digital birth certificates, which will be an all-encompassing document that can be used for admission to educational institutions, applications for driving licences, government jobs, passports, voter enrolment and registration of marriage.
This will ‘avoid multiplicity of documents to prove date and place of birth in the country,’ according to the Bill, which has been tabled in the Indian parliament.
At the moment, Aadhar authentication is not mandatory for birth registration. The current practice for Child Aadhaar enrolment is:
1. For children under five years old, parents need to visit the Aadhaar enrolment centre (AEC), fill out the Aadhaar enrolment form, and submit it with the photocopy of the child’s birth certificate with their own Aadhaar card. Children aged below five years are issued blue coloured Aadhaar cards.
2. As per UID rules, no biometrics are recorded for applicants under five years old. The applicant must update their Aadhaar once s/he turns five or 15. Until then, the child’s Aadhaar will be linked to their parent’s Aadhaar number.
3. The Aadhaar of the child cannot be issued without the parent themself having an Aadhaar number. For children under five, the fingerprint of either of the parents is taken.
4. If the child is over five years’ old, parents can get him/her enrolled by visiting the AEC, fill out the enrolment form and submit it along with the child’s birth certificate and parent’s own Aadhaar card. The parent’s Aadhaar card will serve as the identity and address proof. The child’s biometric data – such as fingers, iris and facial photograph – will be recorded at the time of the enrolment. This procedure will be repeated when the child turns 15.
The new Bill will also make Aadhaar compulsory for the registration of deaths. It will compel states in India to share data on registered births and deaths with the Registrar General of India (RGI), which functions under the Union Home Ministry. The RGI will maintain the register of births and deaths. The states are currently required only to send annual statistics reports to the RGI.
The database will be used to update the National Population Register (NPR), the Bill proposes.
The new Bill also proposes ‘to facilitate the registration process of adopted, orphaned, abandoned, surrendered, surrogate child and child to a single parent or unwed mother’. It will also ‘make it mandatory for all medical institutions to provide a certificate as to the cause of death to the Registrar and a copy of the same to the nearest relative.’
Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has announced that Galaxy smartphone users can now access all their essential digital IDs such as Aadhaar Card, PAN (tax payment) Card, Driving Licence and Vehicle Registration Certificate as part of Samsung Wallet.
Galaxy smartphone users can also store their vaccination certificates conveniently and securely on their phone.
Users will be able to show proof of identity and travel documents needed to pass through airports, directly from the wallet. Samsung claims that it will not store any of the information and the details will only be displayed on the device with the Samsung Wallet.
The state of Andhra Pradesh’s transport department has decided to stop printing driving licences and vehicle registration certificates and to go digital, in an effort to make the processes more user-friendly.
As part of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s paperless initiative, the department will replace these documents with their digital versions. The application fee and postal charges for the cards have also been done away with and the digital cards will be available on DigiLocker. Those who do not use mobile phones can print and store the digital cards.
