Government Revises Aadhaar Rules to Allow Private Entities to Use Aadhaar Authentication for Service Delivery

Government Revises Aadhaar Rules to Allow Private Entities to Use Aadhaar Authentication for Service Delivery

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has amended the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2025, updating the 2020 rules. These amendments are part of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act, 2016.

Key Amendments to the 2020 Rules:

• Expanded Aadhaar Authentication for Ease of Living: The changes allow both government and private entities to use Aadhaar authentication for delivering services that serve the public interest.
• Service Sectors Affected: The amendment broadens the scope to include sectors like e-commerce, travel, tourism, hospitality, and healthcare.
• Simplified Approval Process: Entities seeking to use Aadhaar authentication must apply through a dedicated portal to the relevant ministry or department. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will review the application, and MeitY will grant approval based on recommendations. The concerned ministry will then notify the entity once MeitY confirms the approval.

Significance of the Amendments:

• Enhanced Governance and Innovation: The changes foster the creation of innovative digital solutions using Aadhaar authentication.
• Stronger Public-Private Partnerships: The amendments encourage collaboration between government and private entities for improved governance.
• Secure Transactions: Aadhaar authentication ensures trusted interactions between service providers and users.
• Improved Service Delivery: The revisions streamline processes, enabling faster and more efficient Aadhaar-enabled services.

Additional News:

• Karnataka Approves Dignified Death for Terminally Ill Patients

About Aadhaar:

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory body established under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. It collects both demographic (name, gender, birth date, address) and biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans, and facial photographs).

Under Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, the government can require Aadhaar for beneficiaries to access benefits or subsidies under schemes funded by the Consolidated Fund of India or States.

As per the Supreme Court's ruling, Aadhaar data cannot be stored for more than 6 months.

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