The document discusses Aadhaar, India's centralized identification system, highlighting its creation by Nandan Nilekani and the implementation of a unique identity model incorporating demographics and biometrics. It outlines the enrollment process and authentication mechanisms, while addressing transparency concerns and criticisms about security features. The ongoing debate over Aadhaar illustrates its controversial role in India's governance and public services post-legal standing in 2016.

1. Exploring Aadhaar
(India’s Centralized ID System)
New America
India-US
Public Interest
Technology Fellow
Kaliya Young
At Identity North June 4th, 2019

2. Every imaginable climate
29 States and Territories
250,000 Local Admin units
like counties
Gram Panchyats
India is Vast

3. 1.3 Billion People
22 Official Languages
120 recognized languages
790 spoken languages
English is the language of Administration
Spoken by 12% of the people
India is Vast

4. Colonial Origins
Post Colonial Context

5. Identity was primarily at the Family level with the Ration Card system

6. <——Lots of Ins and Outs and Politics
Constitutionally
Local Government at the
Gram Panchyat Level is responsible
for Birth and Death Registration
There was the
National Population Register
Early 2000’s there was much
Exploring how to change the ID system

7. Charismatic Leader
Nandan Nilekani
Started the
Unique Identity Authority of India
Named as a Cabinet Member
(But not elected to Parliament)
with a “startup culture”
Created a Minimum Viable ID

8. Created a Minimum Viable ID
DEMOGRAPHICS
Name
Birthdate
Gender
Address
BIOMETRICS
Photo
2 Iris Scans
10 Finger Print
BONUS (required?)
Phone Number
Email Address
Bank Account Info

9. AADHAAR ENROLMENT / CORRECTION FORM
Aadhaar Enrolment is free and voluntary. Correction within 96 hours of enrolment is also free. No charges are applicable for Form
and Aadhaar Enrolment. In case of Correction provide your EID, Name and only that field which needs Correction.
In case of Correction provide your EID No here: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | dd |mm| yyyy|hh: mm: ss|
Please follow the instructions overleaf while filling up the form. Use capital letters only.
1 Pre-Enrolment ID : 2 NPR Receipt/TIN Number :
3 Full Name:
4 Gender: Male ( ) Female ( ) Transgender ( ) 5
Age: Yrs OR Date of Birth:| DD | MM | YYYY |
Declared Verified
6 Address: C/o ( ) D/o ( ) S/o ( ) W/o ( ) H/o ( ) NAME
House No/ Bldg./Apt. Street/Road/Lane
Landmark Area/locality/sector
Village/Town/City Post Office
District Sub-District State
E Mail Mobile No | | | | | | | | | | | PIN CODE | | | | | | |
7 Details of : Father ( ) Mother ( ) Guardian ( ) Husband ( ) Wife ( )
For children below 5 years Father/Mother/Guardian’s details are mandatory. Adults can opt to not specify this information, if they cannot/do not want to disclose.
Name
EID/ Aadhaar No.: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | dd |mm| yyyy|hh: mm: ss|
8 I have no objection to the UIDAI sharing information provided by me to the UIDAI
with agencies engaged in delivery of public services including welfare services.
( ) / (×)
9 Select one of the below (OPTIONAL) ( This data cannot be Corrected after Enrolment)
I want the UIDAI to facilitate opening of a new Bank/Post Office Account linked to my
Aadhaar Number and have no objection to sharing my information for this purpose
I have no objection to linking my present bank account provided here to my Aadhaar number
State Bank Name/Branch
IFSC Code Account No.
Verification Type : Document Based ( ) Introducer Based ( ) Head of Family ( )
Select only one of the above. Select Introducer or Head of Family only if you do not possess any documentary proof of
identity and/or address. Introducer and Head of Family details are not required in case of Document based Verification.
10 For Document Based (Write Names of the documents produced. Refer back side of this form for list of valid documents)
a. POI b. POA
c. DOB
(Mandatory in case of Verified Date of Birth)
d. POR
11
For Introducer Based – Introducer’s
Aadhaar No. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For HoF Based - Details of : Father ( ) Mother ( ) Guardian ( ) Husband ( ) Wife ( )
HoF’s EId/Aadhaar No.: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
dd |mm| yyyy|hh: mm: ss|
I hereby confirm the identity and address of ______________________________as being true, correct and accurate.
Introducer/HoF’s Name: Signature of Introducer/HOF
Consent
I confirm that information (including biometrics) provided by me to the UIDAI and the information contained herein is
my own and is true, correct and accurate.
Applicant’s signature/Thumbprint
Verifier’s Stamp and Signature:
(Verifier must put his/her Name, if stamp is not available)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be filled by the Enrolment Agency only : Date & time of Enrolment: ___________________________________

11. Created a Minimum Viable ID
Check for Uniqueness -> Issue a Unique Number
Send it out on a Card with
Zero Security Features
Enrollment Process -> Send to Central Identity Repository

12. Leveraged Market Forces
to drive Enrollment

13. UIDAI worked hard
to get buy in from
ecosystem of actors

26. 5 Ways to do Authentication With Aadhaar
Aadhaar Number
Name and Address
Aadhaar Number
Biometric
Aadhaar Number
Request for OTP
Aadhaar Number
Multi-Factor
eKYC DOC
Name Addressss
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Y/N
Aadhaar Number
Biometric OTP
Via Authentication User Agents
and Authentication Service Providers Via the KYC User Agents
and KYC Service Providers

30. Resident Golden Record
Applying the “Single Source of Truth”
Computer Science model to people.
Problems
Very Little Transparency
Into How The System is Built
Reporters, Security Researchers, NGOs
who point out Flaws in the System
are being subject to First Incident Reports
(Criminal Investigation) initiated by the UIDAI

31. There are Zero Security
Features on the Cards
Photocopying of cards
happens “everywhere”.
Problems

32. Problems
When they do use OTPs
Not Everyone has a
Unique Phone Number
Sub-AUAs are not common
so people aren’t doing
biometric Auth

34. Universally Accepted
Universal ID
Because everyone has one
Good about Aadhaar

37. Debate about Aadhaar is Polarized

38. Aadhaar didn’t get “killed” when the
national government changed parties in 2014.
It finally got legal standing in 2016 when the
Aadhaar Act was pasted as a Money Bill.
It survived a Supreme Court Challenge
ruling was that there was a legitimate state interest
by banned private sector use.

40. Aadhaar 2.0?

41. New America
India-US
Public Interest
Technology Fellow
Kaliya Young
At Identity North June 4th, 2019
kaliya@identitywoman.net