TFP Bureau, New Delhi, April 9, 2025: Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Tuesday described Artificial Intelligence (AI) as “the new industrial revolution,” calling on stakeholders to share ideas on integrating AI with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to further transform service delivery and governance in India.
The Minister was speaking at the third edition of Aadhaar Samvaad—a flagship stakeholders’ meet organized by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in New Delhi. The event saw participation from over 750 senior officials, policy makers, technocrats, and sectoral leaders from across the country.
In his inaugural address, Shri Vaishnaw emphasized Aadhaar’s central role in India’s digital ecosystem, calling it the “aadhaar” or foundation of several key initiatives. He noted the government’s commitment to enhancing ease of living through innovations such as Aadhaar-based face authentication, while preserving individual privacy.
New Aadhaar App Introduced for Secure Digital Identity
One of the major highlights of the event was the unveiling of UIDAI’s new Aadhaar app—a secure digital platform allowing users to share only essential personal information while availing services. The app includes features like QR-based data sharing and Aadhaar face authentication, aimed at reducing reliance on physical documents and enhancing user privacy.
The app, currently in its early access phase for Aadhaar Samvaad participants, is designed to give Aadhaar holders more control over their data and authentication choices. With Aadhaar face authentication alone clocking over 15 crore monthly transactions, officials described it as a hallmark of the future authentication landscape.
Focus on Innovation, Inclusion, and Integration
This edition of Aadhaar Samvaad focused on the theme of Innovation, Inclusion, and Integration, exploring how Aadhaar can strengthen governance and service delivery. Previous editions in Bengaluru and Mumbai had explored Aadhaar’s role in digital identity and the fintech ecosystem respectively.
UIDAI CEO Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar highlighted the organization’s readiness to scale future technologies and ensure secure service delivery. “Aadhaar has a human side too,” he added, pointing to its role in reuniting missing children with their families.
Speaking at the event, MeitY Secretary Shri S. Krishnan emphasized Aadhaar’s role in driving financial inclusion and economic growth while maintaining data privacy. MoSPI Secretary Dr. Saurabh Garg lauded the scale and speed of Aadhaar authentications and called data “a powerful driver of development.”
UIDAI Chairman Shri Neelkanth Mishra said Aadhaar continues to be a key pillar in expanding India’s DPI framework and called for continued innovation in areas like face authentication and mobile integration.
Way Forward
As the government continues to prioritize a transparent, efficient, and citizen-first approach to governance, Aadhaar Samvaad is expected to yield actionable insights for strengthening Aadhaar-based services and expanding its utility across sectors.
UIDAI will gather feedback from early users of the new app before a national rollout, reinforcing its commitment to secure, inclusive and innovative digital identity solutions for every Indian.
