Over 2.5 crore Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals have been deactivated to safeguard against identity fraud, as stated by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has undertaken this action to uphold the accuracy and integrity of the Aadhaar database. Prasada emphasized the importance of deactivating Aadhaar numbers upon the death of an individual to prevent misuse for welfare benefits or identity fraud.
In efforts to enhance security measures and ensure the secure delivery of benefits, various steps have been implemented. These include features like biometric lock/unlock options that allow Aadhaar holders to secure their biometric data, preventing unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, the introduction of face authentication with a ‘liveness detection feature’ aims to deter spoofing and verify the physical presence of beneficiaries during transactions.
Moreover, the promotion of tools such as Aadhaar Secure QR Code, Aadhaar paperless offline e-KYC, e-Aadhaar, and Aadhaar verifiable credentials has been emphasized for offline identity verification purposes. The UIDAI strictly maintains the confidentiality of core biometric data of Aadhaar holders and mandates the use of encrypted Aadhaar data vaults by all entities handling Aadhaar information.
To further ensure data accuracy and security, measures like database sanitization, regular de-duplication, and deactivation of Aadhaar numbers linked to deceased individuals are regularly conducted. Any updates to demographic details in an Aadhaar profile are permitted only with the specified documents approved by UIDAI. Additionally, the UIDAI has introduced a new Aadhaar app enabling users to securely share verified credentials with Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSE).
