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Aadhaar: How India Built the World’s Largest Biometric ID System
New Delhi, April 28 – With 1.43 billion enrolled users, India’s Aadhaar stands as the world’s largest biometric identification system, outpacing China’s ID database. This digital juggernaut has reshaped governance, inclusion, and service delivery across the nation.
By the Numbers: Aadhaar’s Global Dominance
- Total Enrollments: 1.43 billion (93% of India’s population).
- Daily Authentications: 70 million+.
- Cost Efficiency: ₹2.5 per enrollment vs ₹40-80 globally.
- Biometric Data: 10 fingerprints, 2 iris scans, facial photo per user.
Comparative Global Systems
| Country | System | Users | Biometrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Aadhaar | 1.43B | Full (prints, iris, photo) |
| China | National ID | 1.41B | Partial (photo) |
| USA | SSN | 330M | None |
How Aadhaar Changed India
- Financial Inclusion
- Linked 530 million Jan Dhan accounts for banking access.
- Direct Benefit Transfers saved ₹2.7 lakh crore by cutting fake beneficiaries.
- Digital Revolution
- e-KYC enables instant verification for SIMs and accounts.
- DigiLocker hosts 250 million users’ documents securely.
- Pandemic Response
- CoWIN tied Aadhaar to 1.2 billion vaccine doses.
- Ration distribution reached 810 million during COVID-19.
Technological Backbone
- Architecture: Decentralized with 256-bit AES encryption.
- AI/ML: Flags 3,500 duplicate enrollments daily.
- Future Plans: Facial authentication upgrades by 2026.
Global Recognition
- World Bank: Lauded as a “model for digital identity” in 2024.
- UN SDG: Highlighted for advancing inclusion and reducing inequality.
Challenges Overcome
- Privacy: 2018 Supreme Court ruling limited Aadhaar’s scope to government services.
- Rural Reach: 99% coverage via 1,200 mobile enrollment units.
- Fraud: Liveness detection curbs fingerprint spoofing.
What’s Next?
- Aadhaar 2.0: Testing continuous authentication via behavioral biometrics.
- Global Impact: Eight countries exploring Aadhaar-inspired systems.
Aadhaar’s blend of scale, tech, and impact has made it a global benchmark, proving India’s prowess in digital innovation. Its next chapter promises even bolder leaps.
